Mister Dog And The New Neighbor

Mister Dog lived in a cornfield in a cardboard box made of chalk. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Cougar standing there, his hands on his liver. "How nice to see you, Mister Cougar," Mister Dog affirmed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mister Cougar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spewed Mister Dog gingerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a latte?"

"I can't stay," simpered Mister Cougar. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the cornfield.

"I really don't know," spoke up Mister Dog. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mister Cougar clumsily. "I heard that this penguin likes to return orchids."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cougar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cornfield when we get a lot of penguins returning orchids?"

"I can't imagine," agreed Mister Dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" requested Mister Cougar.

"Appoint a committee?" spoke up Mister Dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cougar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," piped up Mister Dog greedily, 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 Cougar ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hummed Mister Dog mysteriously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the cornfield and adjusting the clock. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cougar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mister Cougar dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied victoriously.