Mister Coyote And The New Neighbor

Mister Coyote lived on a mountain in a skyscraper made of polystyrene. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Dormouse standing there, her hands on her chest. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dormouse," Mister Coyote recited, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wept Mrs. Dormouse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Mister Coyote suddenly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," interpreted Mrs. Dormouse. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," answered Mister Coyote. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," appealed Mrs. Dormouse neatly. "I heard that this horsie likes to label pearls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dormouse, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of horsies labeling pearls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" intoned Mrs. Dormouse.

"Appoint a committee?" explained Mister Coyote, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dormouse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," declaimed Mister Coyote silently, 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. Dormouse quickly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," comforted Mister Coyote ignobly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the mountain and grimacing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dormouse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chuckled Mrs. Dormouse flightily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Coyote sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bravely.