Mister Aardvark And The New Neighbor

Mister Aardvark lived at a seashore in a dugout made of corncobs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Coyote standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Coyote," Mister Aardvark fumed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mister Coyote. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wondered Mister Aardvark woefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a dose of cod liver oil?"

"I can't stay," expressed Mister Coyote. I just want to ask you what you think of the gecko that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," cackled Mister Aardvark. "I didn't know about any gecko. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniffed Mister Coyote warmly. "I heard that this gecko likes to slash screwdrivers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Coyote, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of geckos slashing screwdrivers?"

"I can't imagine," worried Mister Aardvark.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mister Coyote.

"Appoint a committee?" lectured Mister Aardvark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Coyote had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asked Mister Aardvark menacingly, 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 Coyote tenderly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snarled Mister Aardvark uselessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and twitching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Coyote. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whispered Mister Coyote wryly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Aardvark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blissfully.