Mister Chipmunk And The New Neighbor

Mister Chipmunk lived on a grassy knoll in a studio made of banana leaves. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover French fries, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ghost standing there, his hands on his stomach. "How nice to see you, Mister Ghost," Mister Chipmunk croaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mister Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blurted Mister Chipmunk lickety-split, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," reasoned Mister Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the pony that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," pleaded Mister Chipmunk. "I didn't know about any pony. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," opined Mister Ghost elatedly. "I heard that this pony likes to twist iPods."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of ponies twisting iPods?"

"I can't imagine," yammered Mister Chipmunk.

"What are we going to do about it?" harangued Mister Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" barked Mister Chipmunk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yawned Mister Chipmunk daintily, 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 Ghost courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Mister Chipmunk later, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on his front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and cheering up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mister Ghost sternly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Chipmunk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied recklessly.