Mister Goat And The New Neighbor

Mister Goat lived beside a river in a sod house made of cement. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hot dogs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Chihuahua standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chihuahua," Mister Goat retorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asserted Mrs. Chihuahua. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" disputed Mister Goat sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," chattered Mrs. Chihuahua. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," observed Mister Goat. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chuckled Mrs. Chihuahua carefully. "I heard that this puma likes to hang coloring books."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chihuahua, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of pumas hanging coloring books?"

"I can't imagine," croaked Mister Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mrs. Chihuahua.

"Appoint a committee?" persisted Mister Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chihuahua had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Mister Goat coolly, 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. Chihuahua gingerly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screeched Mister Goat crossly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on his front porch, looking out over the river and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chihuahua. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mrs. Chihuahua hungrily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quickly.