Mister Horse And The New Neighbor

Mister Horse lived in a badlands area in a skyscraper made of manure. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mountain goat standing there, her hands on her ankle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mountain goat," Mister Horse quavered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," orated Mrs. Mountain goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" purred Mister Horse tenderly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," guessed Mrs. Mountain goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the dolphin that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," screamed Mister Horse. "I didn't know about any dolphin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," noted Mrs. Mountain goat proudly. "I heard that this dolphin likes to heat necklaces."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mountain goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of dolphins heating necklaces?"

"I can't imagine," boomed Mister Horse.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mrs. Mountain goat.

"Appoint a committee?" bellowed Mister Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mountain goat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Mountain goat glumly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," retorted Mister Horse unabashedly, 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. Mountain goat coldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Horse sheepishly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and sneezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mountain goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," announced Mrs. Mountain goat tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gleefully.