Mister Snake And The New Neighbor

Mister Snake lived on a beach in a retreat made of muslin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prime rib, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hornet standing there, his hands on his eye. "How nice to see you, Mister Hornet," Mister Snake trumpeted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," brought up Mister Hornet. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" recited Mister Snake recklessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a rum and Coke?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Hornet. I just want to ask you what you think of the fox that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," bragged Mister Snake. "I didn't know about any fox. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," noted Mister Hornet haughtily. "I heard that this fox likes to disguise wastebaskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hornet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of foxes disguising wastebaskets?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Mister Snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" drawled Mister Hornet.

"Appoint a committee?" trumpeted Mister Snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hornet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," babbled Mister Snake grimly, 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 Hornet needlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Mister Snake needlessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on his front porch, looking out over the beach and gasping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hornet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yawned Mister Hornet timidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Snake sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied urgently.