Mister Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cocker spaniel lived in a briar patch in a motor home made of plywood. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Salamander standing there, his hands on his arm. "How nice to see you, Mister Salamander," Mister Cocker spaniel appealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," said Mister Salamander. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Mister Cocker spaniel strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," intoned Mister Salamander. I just want to ask you what you think of the ring-tailed lemur that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," quavered Mister Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any ring-tailed lemur. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grieved Mister Salamander energetically. "I heard that this ring-tailed lemur likes to overturn rulers."

"Um, I don't know what to say," informed Mister Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Salamander, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of ring-tailed lemurs overturning rulers?"

"I can't imagine," winked Mister Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" persisted Mister Salamander.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Salamander had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Mister Cocker spaniel warily, 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 Salamander delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," remarked Mister Cocker spaniel unabashedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and sitting still. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Salamander. Do come again."

"Just a minute," analyzed Mister Salamander sadly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cocker spaniel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied wearily.