Mister Mouse And The New Neighbor

Mister Mouse lived in a pond in a duplex made of lead. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Squirrel standing there, his hands on his arm. "How nice to see you, Mister Squirrel," Mister Mouse realized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," phrased Mister Squirrel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blubbered Mister Mouse dolefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," persisted Mister Squirrel. I just want to ask you what you think of the peacock that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," fantasized Mister Mouse. "I didn't know about any peacock. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mentioned Mister Squirrel gleefully. "I heard that this peacock likes to strengthen antennas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Squirrel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of peacocks strengthening antennas?"

"I can't imagine," uttered Mister Mouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" moaned Mister Squirrel.

"Appoint a committee?" announced Mister Mouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Squirrel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," queried Mister Mouse diligently, 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 Squirrel crossly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interpreted Mister Mouse sorrowfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the pond and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Squirrel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stuttered Mister Squirrel sourly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied suavely.