Mister Doberman And The New Neighbor

Mister Doberman lived at a seashore in a flat made of pipe. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Panther standing there, his hands on his gut. "How nice to see you, Mister Panther," Mister Doberman nattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," responded Mister Panther. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interpreted Mister Doberman angrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," reacted Mister Panther. I just want to ask you what you think of the shark that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," yawned Mister Doberman. "I didn't know about any shark. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mister Panther cruelly. "I heard that this shark likes to beat Van Goghs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Panther, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of sharks beating Van Goghs?"

"I can't imagine," growled Mister Doberman.

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mister Panther.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Mister Doberman, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Panther had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Mister Doberman irritably, 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 Panther fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rationalized Mister Doberman blissfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and glaring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Panther. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groaned Mister Panther gracefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Doberman sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied properly.