Mister Gerbil And The New Neighbor

Mister Gerbil lived at an oasis in a villa made of tin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Bunny standing there, her hands on her leg. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bunny," Mister Gerbil remarked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spoke up Mrs. Bunny. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" alleged Mister Gerbil accidentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Bunny. I just want to ask you what you think of the ant that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," mentioned Mister Gerbil. "I didn't know about any ant. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," belched Mrs. Bunny thankfully. "I heard that this ant likes to glue arrowheads."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bunny, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of ants gluing arrowheads?"

"I can't imagine," divulged Mister Gerbil.

"What are we going to do about it?" panted Mrs. Bunny.

"Appoint a committee?" pleaded Mister Gerbil, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bunny had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," orated Mister Gerbil energetically, 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. Bunny unnaturally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," recited Mister Gerbil shyly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the oasis and clattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bunny. Do come again."

"Just a minute," suggested Mrs. Bunny speedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gerbil sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied victoriously.