Mister Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Mister Dromedary lived beside a creek in a parsonage made of Elmer's glue. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Swan standing there, his hands on his knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mister Swan," Mister Dromedary murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," insisted Mister Swan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blurted Mister Dromedary quickly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," began Mister Swan. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," simpered Mister Dromedary. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mister Swan diligently. "I heard that this whale likes to cut ping-pong paddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Swan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of whales cutting ping-pong paddles?"

"I can't imagine," trumpeted Mister Dromedary.

"What are we going to do about it?" requested Mister Swan.

"Appoint a committee?" prattled Mister Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Swan had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Mister Dromedary irritably, 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 Swan elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," giggled Mister Dromedary truculently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on his front porch, looking out over the creek and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Swan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vowed Mister Swan smoothly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gleefully.