Mister Eel And The New Neighbor

Mister Eel lived on the creek in a wikiup made of sweat and toil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Shrew standing there, his hands on his piehole. "How nice to see you, Mister Shrew," Mister Eel debated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chuckled Mister Shrew. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rambled Mister Eel nonchalantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," said Mister Shrew. I just want to ask you what you think of the mule that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," explained Mister Eel. "I didn't know about any mule. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," offered Mister Shrew peevishly. "I heard that this mule likes to yank pairs of fuzzy dice."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Shrew, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of mules yanking pairs of fuzzy dice?"

"I can't imagine," blurted Mister Eel.

"What are we going to do about it?" giggled Mister Shrew.

"Appoint a committee?" realized Mister Eel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Shrew had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Mister Eel deliberately, 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 Shrew tearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hissed Mister Eel fearfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on his front porch, looking out over the creek and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Shrew. Do come again."

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

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

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

Mister Eel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied boldly.