Mister Camel And The New Neighbor

Mister Camel lived in a circus tent in a crypt made of cow pies. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Manatee standing there, her hands on her pride. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Manatee," Mister Camel sniffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," murmured Mrs. Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Mister Camel hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," yelped Mrs. Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the pigeon that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," breathed Mister Camel. "I didn't know about any pigeon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," indicated Mrs. Manatee nonchalantly. "I heard that this pigeon likes to kill paper towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Manatee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of pigeons killing paper towels?"

"I can't imagine," stated Mister Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" sputtered Mrs. Manatee.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Mister Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Manatee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grunted Mister Camel again, 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. Manatee grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squawked Mister Camel dubiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Manatee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shouted Mrs. Manatee temperamentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blindly.