Mister Mole And The New Neighbor

Mister Mole lived in a pasture in a geodesic dome made of manure. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Manatee standing there, his hands on his pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mister Manatee," Mister Mole reasoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," appealed Mister Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniped Mister Mole violently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," stormed Mister Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the robot that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," smirked Mister Mole. "I didn't know about any robot. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rationalized Mister Manatee victoriously. "I heard that this robot likes to ruin watering cans."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Manatee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of robots ruining watering cans?"

"I can't imagine," answered Mister Mole.

"What are we going to do about it?" alleged Mister Manatee.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Mister Mole, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Manatee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Mister Mole woefully, 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 Manatee urgently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Mister Mole unexpectedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the pasture and playing Farmer in the Dell. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Manatee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snorted Mister Manatee trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mole sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lickety-split.