Mister Rhinoceros And The New Neighbor

Mister Rhinoceros lived in a countryside in a park bench made of sand. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover falafel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur standing there, her hands on her adrenal gland. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur," Mister Rhinoceros clarified, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blustered Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Mister Rhinoceros slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a latte?"

"I can't stay," fretted Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the chicken that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," implored Mister Rhinoceros. "I didn't know about any chicken. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur merrily. "I heard that this chicken likes to whack toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of chickens whacking toothbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," said Mister Rhinoceros.

"What are we going to do about it?" indicated Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Mister Rhinoceros, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur busily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," called Mister Rhinoceros joyously, 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 Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur jokingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," accused Mister Rhinoceros sleepily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and curtseying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snorted Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur grandly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Rhinoceros thought he had answered, and was beginning to get sketchy. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Ring-tailed lemur doing these days?"

Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"

Mister Rhinoceros sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied roughly.