Mister Zebra And The New Neighbor

Mister Zebra lived in a jungle in a motel made of seaweed. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Flea standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Flea," Mister Zebra contended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," alleged Mister Flea. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Mister Zebra bravely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," urged Mister Flea. I just want to ask you what you think of the louse that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," yelled Mister Zebra. "I didn't know about any louse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mister Flea slyly. "I heard that this louse likes to catch cactus plants."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Flea, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of lice catching cactus plants?"

"I can't imagine," implored Mister Zebra.

"What are we going to do about it?" piped up Mister Flea.

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Mister Zebra, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Flea had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asserted Mister Zebra suddenly, 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 Flea surreptitiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," requested Mister Zebra perkily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and knitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Flea. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spoke up Mister Flea deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Zebra sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied deliberately.