Mister Bull And The New Neighbor

Mister Bull lived in a gulch in a boxcar made of chewing gum. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Garter snake standing there, his hands on his hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mister Garter snake," Mister Bull asserted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," comforted Mister Garter snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Mister Bull stupidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," shrieked Mister Garter snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the manatee that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," moaned Mister Bull. "I didn't know about any manatee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mister Garter snake dubiously. "I heard that this manatee likes to strengthen potatoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Garter snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of manatees strengthening potatoes?"

"I can't imagine," shouted Mister Bull.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mister Garter snake.

"Appoint a committee?" pointed out Mister Bull, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Garter snake had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Garter snake coldly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Mister Bull dolefully, 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 Garter snake swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," continued Mister Bull speedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china hutch on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and burbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Garter snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vowed Mister Garter snake ingeniously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bull sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warmly.