Mister Bat And The New Neighbor

Mister Bat lived in a buffalo wallow in a castle made of cards. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Puppy standing there, his hands on his waist. "How nice to see you, Mister Puppy," Mister Bat suggested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mister Puppy. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squealed Mister Bat urgently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer float?"

"I can't stay," added Mister Puppy. I just want to ask you what you think of the chameleon that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," moaned Mister Bat. "I didn't know about any chameleon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," articulated Mister Puppy irritably. "I heard that this chameleon likes to refine bags of potato chips."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Puppy, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of chameleons refining bags of potato chips?"

"I can't imagine," exploded Mister Bat.

"What are we going to do about it?" smirked Mister Puppy.

"Appoint a committee?" fantasized Mister Bat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Puppy had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," professed Mister Bat rapidly, 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 Puppy elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shouted Mister Bat oddly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and jerking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Puppy. Do come again."

"Just a minute," prattled Mister Puppy ferociously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied vigorously.