Mister Newt And The New Neighbor

Mister Newt lived on a grassy knoll in a church made of beeswax. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bread and butter, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Bunny standing there, his hands on his esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mister Bunny," Mister Newt added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stormed Mister Bunny. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Mister Newt angrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," squawked Mister Bunny. I just want to ask you what you think of the computer that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," chortled Mister Newt. "I didn't know about any computer. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hissed Mister Bunny anxiously. "I heard that this computer likes to pluck soccer balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bunny, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of computers plucking soccer balls?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Mister Newt.

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

"Appoint a committee?" purred Mister Newt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bunny had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," noted Mister Newt nicely, 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 Bunny grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fumed Mister Newt automatically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bunny. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stuttered Mister Bunny sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Newt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied nicely.