Mister Goat And The New Neighbor

Mister Goat lived in a badlands area in a hut made of hide. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Puma standing there, his hands on his spleen. "How nice to see you, Mister Puma," Mister Goat scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," questioned Mister Puma. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mumbled Mister Goat sarcastically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," judged Mister Puma. I just want to ask you what you think of the buzzard that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," enunciated Mister Goat. "I didn't know about any buzzard. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mister Puma gingerly. "I heard that this buzzard likes to stab darts."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Puma, 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 buzzards stabbing darts?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Mister Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" pleaded Mister Puma.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Mister Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Puma had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," joked Mister Goat strictly, 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 Puma sorrowfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quavered Mister Goat bravely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and screeching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Puma. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bellowed Mister Puma boisterously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grimly.