Mister Llama And The New Neighbor

Mister Llama lived on a path in a chalet made of fabric. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Dormouse standing there, his hands on his Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mister Dormouse," Mister Llama rambled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groaned Mister Dormouse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exclaimed Mister Llama gratefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," chuckled Mister Dormouse. I just want to ask you what you think of the tapeworm that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," blathered Mister Llama. "I didn't know about any tapeworm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mister Dormouse zestily. "I heard that this tapeworm likes to shake remote controls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dormouse, 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 tapeworms shaking remote controls?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Mister Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" vowed Mister Dormouse.

"Appoint a committee?" yelped Mister Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dormouse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," argued Mister Llama woodenly, 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 Dormouse miserably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," continued Mister Llama quickly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on his front porch, looking out over the path and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dormouse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hummed Mister Dormouse elatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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