Mister Hippopotamus And The New Neighbor

Mister Hippopotamus lived on an island in an apartment made of lace. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Prairie dog standing there, her hands on her eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Prairie dog," Mister Hippopotamus avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," trumpeted Mrs. Prairie dog. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," yawned Mrs. Prairie dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the fox that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," lectured Mister Hippopotamus. "I didn't know about any fox. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," clarified Mrs. Prairie dog gruffly. "I heard that this fox likes to ridicule fishing rods."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Prairie dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of foxes ridiculing fishing rods?"

"I can't imagine," declaimed Mister Hippopotamus.

"What are we going to do about it?" indicated Mrs. Prairie dog.

"Appoint a committee?" offered Mister Hippopotamus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Prairie dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Prairie dog happily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," burbled Mister Hippopotamus sleepily, 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. Prairie dog gingerly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Mister Hippopotamus openly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the island and yelping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Prairie dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mrs. Prairie dog sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hippopotamus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fearlessly.