Mister Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Teddy bear lived in a landfill in a closet made of cow pies. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Chicken standing there, his hands on his eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mister Chicken," Mister Teddy bear persisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mister Chicken. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" grunted Mister Teddy bear sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," panted Mister Chicken. I just want to ask you what you think of the crab that's come to the landfill.

"I really don't know," spouted Mister Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any crab. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stuttered Mister Chicken trustingly. "I heard that this crab likes to strengthen diagrams."

"Um, I don't know what to say," comforted Mister Teddy bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Chicken, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the landfill when we get a lot of crabs strengthening diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," burbled Mister Teddy bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" offered Mister Chicken.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Chicken had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," scoffed Mister Teddy bear breathlessly, 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 Chicken calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Mister Teddy bear pitifully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the landfill and hiccuping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chicken. Do come again."

"Just a minute," continued Mister Chicken intensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Teddy bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied repeatedly.