Mister Doggie And The New Neighbor

Mister Doggie lived on a hillside in a farmhouse made of pillows. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chocolate-covered ants, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sputtered Mister Doggie warmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," blustered Mister Bandicoot. I just want to ask you what you think of the musk-ox that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Doggie. "I didn't know about any musk-ox. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mister Bandicoot innocently. "I heard that this musk-ox likes to tickle hand puppets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bandicoot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of musk-oxen tickling hand puppets?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mister Bandicoot.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelled Mister Doggie lickety-split, 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 Bandicoot flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Mister Doggie fiercely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on his front porch, looking out over the hillside and clapping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bandicoot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mister Bandicoot cunningly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Bandicoot 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 uselessly.