Mister Beaver And The New Neighbor

Mister Beaver lived in an arroyo in a geodesic dome made of kelp. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Kitty standing there, her hands on her heart. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kitty," Mister Beaver sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," joked Mrs. Kitty. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Mister Beaver bitterly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," revealed Mrs. Kitty. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," bellowed Mister Beaver. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," panted Mrs. Kitty grimly. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to forget bags of groceries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Kitty, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of hippopotami forgetting bags of groceries?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Mister Beaver.

"What are we going to do about it?" worried Mrs. Kitty.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Beaver, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kitty had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Kitty oddly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Mister Beaver primly, 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. Kitty shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," suggested Mister Beaver smoothly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kitty. Do come again."

"Just a minute," queried Mrs. Kitty nervously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beaver sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied deliberately.