Mister Dalmatian And The New Neighbor

Mister Dalmatian lived on a beach in a cardboard box made of rubber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hyena standing there, his hands on his nostril. "How nice to see you, Mister Hyena," Mister Dalmatian chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," debated Mister Hyena. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Mister Dalmatian tensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," sputtered Mister Hyena. I just want to ask you what you think of the hamster that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," sobbed Mister Dalmatian. "I didn't know about any hamster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mister Hyena curiously. "I heard that this hamster likes to beat rolls of duct tape."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hyena, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of hamsters beating rolls of duct tape?"

"I can't imagine," gasped Mister Dalmatian.

"What are we going to do about it?" informed Mister Hyena.

"Appoint a committee?" groaned Mister Dalmatian, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hyena had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," brought up Mister Dalmatian hungrily, 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 Hyena pitifully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Mister Dalmatian lightly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on his front porch, looking out over the beach and waiting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hyena. Do come again."

"Just a minute," interrupted Mister Hyena narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dalmatian sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied hastily.