Mister Dingo And The New Neighbor

Mister Dingo lived in a swamp in a studio made of slime. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Burro standing there, her hands on her eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Burro," Mister Dingo purred, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," argued Mrs. Burro. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shouted Mister Dingo resignedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," rationalized Mrs. Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the alligator that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," brought up Mister Dingo. "I didn't know about any alligator. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," croaked Mrs. Burro merrily. "I heard that this alligator likes to scrape pumpkins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Burro, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of alligators scraping pumpkins?"

"I can't imagine," yelled Mister Dingo.

"What are we going to do about it?" smiled Mrs. Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Mister Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bellowed Mister Dingo blissfully, 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. Burro doubtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," begged Mister Dingo madly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on his front porch, looking out over the swamp and clattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Burro. Do come again."

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

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

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

Mister Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fearlessly.