Mister Mole And The New Neighbor

Mister Mole lived in a briar patch in a stinky shack made of sawdust. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pot roast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Canary standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Canary," Mister Mole rumored, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," said Mister Canary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Mister Mole thoughtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Irish Coffee?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mister Canary. I just want to ask you what you think of the skunk that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," offered Mister Mole. "I didn't know about any skunk. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interpreted Mister Canary rapidly. "I heard that this skunk likes to decorate bottles of perfume."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Canary, 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 skunks decorating bottles of perfume?"

"I can't imagine," blathered Mister Mole.

"What are we going to do about it?" invited Mister Canary.

"Appoint a committee?" screeched Mister Mole, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Canary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Mister Mole sleepily, 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 Canary openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pronounced Mister Mole frantically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and catching up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Canary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whined Mister Canary recklessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mole sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gingerly.