Mister Horse And The New Neighbor

Mister Horse lived in a gulch in a subway tunnel made of precious gems. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover French fries, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Manticore standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Manticore," Mister Horse babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," inquired Mister Manticore. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Mister Horse swiftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mister Manticore. I just want to ask you what you think of the shrew that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," smirked Mister Horse. "I didn't know about any shrew. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rebutted Mister Manticore stupidly. "I heard that this shrew likes to dislodge clothespins."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Manticore, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of shrews dislodging clothespins?"

"I can't imagine," persisted Mister Horse.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mister Manticore.

"Appoint a committee?" moaned Mister Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Manticore had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bawled Mister Horse suavely, 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 Manticore proudly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," implored Mister Horse primly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and nodding off. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Manticore. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gabbed Mister Manticore oddly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied frenetically.