Mister Giraffe And The New Neighbor

Mister Giraffe lived on a moonscape in a Cape Cod made of porcelain. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Chihuahua standing there, his hands on his shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mister Chihuahua," Mister Giraffe alleged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mister Chihuahua. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shrieked Mister Giraffe neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mister Chihuahua. I just want to ask you what you think of the mule that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," decided Mister Giraffe. "I didn't know about any mule. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cried Mister Chihuahua stealthily. "I heard that this mule likes to attack cupcakes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Chihuahua, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of mules attacking cupcakes?"

"I can't imagine," murmured Mister Giraffe.

"What are we going to do about it?" gabbed Mister Chihuahua.

"Appoint a committee?" bellowed Mister Giraffe, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Chihuahua had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," peeped Mister Giraffe violently, 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 Chihuahua sorrowfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pleaded Mister Giraffe craftily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and getting upset. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chihuahua. Do come again."

"Just a minute," announced Mister Chihuahua silently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Giraffe sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied miserably.