Mister Deer And The New Neighbor

Mister Deer lived in a gulch in a hut made of muslin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Flamingo standing there, his hands on his tooth. "How nice to see you, Mister Flamingo," Mister Deer babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," repeated Mister Flamingo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" noted Mister Deer woefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," nattered Mister Flamingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the beagle that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," analyzed Mister Deer. "I didn't know about any beagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shouted Mister Flamingo repeatedly. "I heard that this beagle likes to feel canes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Flamingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of beagles feeling canes?"

"I can't imagine," rebutted Mister Deer.

"What are we going to do about it?" whispered Mister Flamingo.

"Appoint a committee?" agreed Mister Deer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Flamingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," concluded Mister Deer needlessly, 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 Flamingo flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declared Mister Deer slowly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Flamingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smiled Mister Flamingo blindly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Deer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied smoothly.