Mister Gazelle And The New Neighbor

Mister Gazelle lived in a country meadow in a treehouse made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pumpkin pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Hippopotamus standing there, her hands on her wig. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hippopotamus," Mister Gazelle groveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stormed Mrs. Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" articulated Mister Gazelle craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," exploded Mrs. Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the polar bear that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," railed Mister Gazelle. "I didn't know about any polar bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," alleged Mrs. Hippopotamus deftly. "I heard that this polar bear likes to score pacifiers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the country meadow when we get a lot of polar bears scoring pacifiers?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Gazelle.

"What are we going to do about it?" analyzed Mrs. Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" affirmed Mister Gazelle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hippopotamus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Hippopotamus sympathetically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yelled Mister Gazelle crazily, 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 Mrs. Hippopotamus rapidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniped Mister Gazelle breathlessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the country meadow and looking puzzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grieved Mrs. Hippopotamus positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gazelle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brightly.