Mister Reindeer And The New Neighbor

Mister Reindeer lived on a veld in a brownstone made of construction paper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Duck standing there, her hands on her wrist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Duck," Mister Reindeer gasped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chimed Mrs. Duck. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Duck. I just want to ask you what you think of the bat that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," mumbled Mister Reindeer. "I didn't know about any bat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Duck gingerly. "I heard that this bat likes to grab china dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Duck, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of bats grabbing china dolls?"

"I can't imagine," noted Mister Reindeer.

"What are we going to do about it?" boasted Mrs. Duck.

"Appoint a committee?" clarified Mister Reindeer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Duck had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Mister Reindeer caustically, 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. Duck coolly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Mister Reindeer timidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on his front porch, looking out over the veld and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Duck. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mrs. Duck daringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Reindeer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dolefully.