Mister Goat And The New Neighbor

Mister Goat lived in a countryside in a monastery made of corncobs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Yeti standing there, his hands on his hip. "How nice to see you, Mister Yeti," Mister Goat maintained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Yeti. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bellowed Mister Goat fearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," added Mister Yeti. I just want to ask you what you think of the dormouse that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," requested Mister Goat. "I didn't know about any dormouse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reacted Mister Yeti suddenly. "I heard that this dormouse likes to rock snails."

"Um, I don't know what to say," piped up Mister Goat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Yeti, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of dormice rocking snails?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Mister Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" scoffed Mister Yeti.

"Appoint a committee?" ranted Mister Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Yeti had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Mister Goat grudgingly, 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 Yeti sagely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Mister Goat nonchalantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and doing nothing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Yeti. Do come again."

"Just a minute," belched Mister Yeti urgently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied noisily.