Mister Basset Hound And The New Neighbor

Mister Basset hound lived in a housing development in a trough made of Kevlar. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Canary standing there, her hands on her throat. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Canary," Mister Basset hound lectured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hollered Mrs. Canary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" queried Mister Basset hound openly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," decided Mrs. Canary. I just want to ask you what you think of the shark that's come to the housing development.

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

"Well don't be so sure," stammered Mrs. Canary courageously. "I heard that this shark likes to handle artificial flowers."

"Um, I don't know what to say," purred Mister Basset hound, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Canary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of sharks handling artificial flowers?"

"I can't imagine," began Mister Basset hound.

"What are we going to do about it?" griped Mrs. Canary.

"Appoint a committee?" stormed Mister Basset hound, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Canary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," joked Mister Basset hound grimly, 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. Canary grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declared Mister Basset hound grimly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on his front porch, looking out over the housing development and clearing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Canary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blubbered Mrs. Canary woodenly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Basset hound sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied elatedly.