Mister Norway Rat And The New Neighbor

Mister Norway rat lived at a seashore in a flat made of rammed earth. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Falcon standing there, his hands on his femur. "How nice to see you, Mister Falcon," Mister Norway rat hinted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," opined Mister Falcon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pointed out Mister Norway rat gracefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," stuttered Mister Falcon. I just want to ask you what you think of the polar bear that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," continued Mister Norway rat. "I didn't know about any polar bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rationalized Mister Falcon gratefully. "I heard that this polar bear likes to stabilize pinwheels."

"Um, I don't know what to say," implored Mister Norway rat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Falcon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of polar bears stabilizing pinwheels?"

"I can't imagine," decided Mister Norway rat.

"What are we going to do about it?" whined Mister Falcon.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Mister Norway rat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Falcon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chimed Mister Norway rat slyly, 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 Falcon courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Mister Norway rat narrowly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Falcon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," growled Mister Falcon perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Norway rat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied calmly.