Mister Dormouse And The New Neighbor

Mister Dormouse lived in a meadow in a box made of lumber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mink standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mink," Mister Dormouse whispered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," opined Mrs. Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smirked Mister Dormouse sweetly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," whimpered Mrs. Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," implored Mister Dormouse. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wondered Mrs. Mink caustically. "I heard that this camel likes to fix sponges."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mink, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of camels fixing sponges?"

"I can't imagine," drawled Mister Dormouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" stated Mrs. Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" insisted Mister Dormouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mink had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Mink uneasily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," commented Mister Dormouse happily, 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. Mink gently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," affirmed Mister Dormouse busily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on his front porch, looking out over the meadow and sneering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mink. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mrs. Mink furiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dormouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sharply.