Mister Gopher And The New Neighbor

Mister Gopher lived on a mountainside in a motel made of jewels. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Rabbit standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rabbit," Mister Gopher fantasized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," argued Mrs. Rabbit. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Mister Gopher vigorously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," tittered Mrs. Rabbit. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the mountainside.

"I really don't know," reacted Mister Gopher. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fretted Mrs. Rabbit hopefully. "I heard that this camel likes to shave bouquets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rabbit, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of camels shaving bouquets?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Mister Gopher.

"What are we going to do about it?" bawled Mrs. Rabbit.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Mister Gopher, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rabbit had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Rabbit lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," drawled Mister Gopher patiently, 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. Rabbit hysterically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," disputed Mister Gopher impatiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wine rack on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and flinching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rabbit. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hinted Mrs. Rabbit immediately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gopher sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gratefully.