Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived on a grassy knoll in a tent made of gold bricks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover banana split, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Raven standing there, her hands on her hip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Raven," Mister German Shepherd warbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," scoffed Mrs. Raven. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" maintained Mister German Shepherd lazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," mused Mrs. Raven. I just want to ask you what you think of the warthog that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," enunciated Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any warthog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," laughed Mrs. Raven vigorously. "I heard that this warthog likes to reconsider accordions."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sobbed Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Raven, 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 warthogs reconsidering accordions?"

"I can't imagine," observed Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" snarled Mrs. Raven.

"Appoint a committee?" observed Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Raven had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whined Mister German Shepherd cunningly, 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. Raven strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," prattled Mister German Shepherd jokingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Raven. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mrs. Raven greedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied elatedly.