Mister Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Teddy bear lived on a mountain in an apartment made of cards. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Butterfly standing there, his hands on his paw. "How nice to see you, Mister Butterfly," Mister Teddy bear sniffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whispered Mister Butterfly. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bawled Mister Teddy bear cleverly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mister Butterfly. I just want to ask you what you think of the garter snake that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," amended Mister Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any garter snake. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," asserted Mister Butterfly cautiously. "I heard that this garter snake likes to tickle protest signs."

"Um, I don't know what to say," lectured Mister Teddy bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Butterfly, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of garter snakes tickling protest signs?"

"I can't imagine," urged Mister Teddy bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" indicated Mister Butterfly.

"Appoint a committee?" intimated Mister Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Butterfly had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mumbled Mister Teddy bear tensely, 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 Butterfly doubtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," nattered Mister Teddy bear daintily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the mountain and cheering up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Butterfly. Do come again."

"Just a minute," boomed Mister Butterfly quickly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Teddy bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warily.