Mister Puppy And The New Neighbor

Mister Puppy lived in a briar patch in a retreat made of silk. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Eagle standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eagle," Mister Puppy murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mrs. Eagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Mister Puppy gingerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," simpered Mrs. Eagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," analyzed Mister Puppy. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mrs. Eagle blissfully. "I heard that this baboon likes to abuse magnifying glasses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eagle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of baboons abusing magnifying glasses?"

"I can't imagine," judged Mister Puppy.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mrs. Eagle.

"Appoint a committee?" breathed Mister Puppy, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eagle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Mister Puppy uneasily, 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. Eagle greedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," observed Mister Puppy suddenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and mumbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mrs. Eagle awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Puppy sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quickly.