Mister Zebra And The New Neighbor

Mister Zebra lived on a cliff in an apartment made of brick. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover falafel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Whale standing there, her hands on her tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Mister Zebra chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squawked Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" realized Mister Zebra smoothly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," belched Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the antelope that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," yammered Mister Zebra. "I didn't know about any antelope. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spouted Mrs. Whale crossly. "I heard that this antelope likes to silence vacuum cleaners."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of antelopes silencing vacuum cleaners?"

"I can't imagine," exclaimed Mister Zebra.

"What are we going to do about it?" argued Mrs. Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" sniveled Mister Zebra, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," thought Mister Zebra slyly, 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. Whale majestically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," worried Mister Zebra timidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the cliff and drooling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mrs. Whale anxiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Zebra sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied delicately.