Mister Dingo And The New Neighbor

Mister Dingo lived in a treetop in a manor house made of dreams and visions. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister German Shepherd standing there, his hands on his neck. "How nice to see you, Mister German Shepherd," Mister Dingo boasted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," accused Mister German Shepherd. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pleaded Mister Dingo craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister German Shepherd. I just want to ask you what you think of the squirrel that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," belched Mister Dingo. "I didn't know about any squirrel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mouthed Mister German Shepherd perkily. "I heard that this squirrel likes to pulverize amulets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister German Shepherd, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of squirrels pulverizing amulets?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Mister Dingo.

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

"Appoint a committee?" prattled Mister Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister German Shepherd had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister German Shepherd cleverly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," laughed Mister Dingo proudly, 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 German Shepherd repeatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blurted Mister Dingo haughtily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and twitching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister German Shepherd. Do come again."

"Just a minute," queried Mister German Shepherd grandly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied neatly.