Mister Unicorn And The New Neighbor

Mister Unicorn lived on a path in an apartment made of foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hedgehog standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Hedgehog," Mister Unicorn gabbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chanted Mister Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" maintained Mister Unicorn lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," bragged Mister Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," continued Mister Unicorn. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cackled Mister Hedgehog fondly. "I heard that this ghost likes to interpret bottles of perfume."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Mister Unicorn, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of ghosts interpreting bottles of perfume?"

"I can't imagine," chortled Mister Unicorn.

"What are we going to do about it?" prattled Mister Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" enunciated Mister Unicorn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hedgehog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniped Mister Unicorn suddenly, 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 Hedgehog slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Mister Unicorn humbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the path and trembling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," agreed Mister Hedgehog menacingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Unicorn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied smoothly.