Mister Doggie And The New Neighbor

Mister Doggie lived on a seacoast in a motel made of paper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mink standing there, his hands on his hand. "How nice to see you, Mister Mink," Mister Doggie preached, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," swore Mister Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Doggie frenetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bloody Mary?"

"I can't stay," warbled Mister Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the weasel that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," shouted Mister Doggie. "I didn't know about any weasel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declaimed Mister Mink wildly. "I heard that this weasel likes to strengthen coupons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mink, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of weasels strengthening coupons?"

"I can't imagine," wailed Mister Doggie.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniped Mister Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Mister Doggie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mink had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Mink cruelly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," stormed Mister Doggie impatiently, 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 Mister Mink ignobly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vouched Mister Doggie confidently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on his front porch, looking out over the seacoast and flinching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mink. Do come again."

"Just a minute," howled Mister Mink sweetly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Doggie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fearlessly.