Mister Mongoose And The New Neighbor

Mister Mongoose lived on a grassy knoll in a manor made of wood. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

He leapt to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.

He was surprised to see Mrs. Beagle standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beagle," Mister Mongoose sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mrs. Beagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" purred Mister Mongoose strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," hollered Mrs. Beagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the boar that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," blurted Mister Mongoose. "I didn't know about any boar. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grieved Mrs. Beagle gingerly. "I heard that this boar likes to dispose of hot potatoes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," noted Mister Mongoose, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beagle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of boars disposing of hot potatoes?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Mister Mongoose.

"What are we going to do about it?" contended Mrs. Beagle.

"Appoint a committee?" declared Mister Mongoose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beagle had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Beagle unabashedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," guessed Mister Mongoose bravely, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Beagle coolly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snorted Mister Mongoose patiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," preached Mrs. Beagle lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Mongoose thought he had answered, and was beginning to get furry. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Beagle doing these days?"

Mrs. Beagle would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"

Mister Mongoose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied primly.