Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived on a mesa in a brownstone made of aluminum foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, 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 Giraffe standing there, his hands on his spinal cord. "How nice to see you, Mister Giraffe," Mister Hedgehog bragged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," crooned Mister Giraffe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squeaked Mister Hedgehog cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," interpreted Mister Giraffe. I just want to ask you what you think of the Guinea pig that's come to the mesa.

"I really don't know," squealed Mister Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any Guinea pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mister Giraffe ingeniously. "I heard that this Guinea pig likes to fortify playing cards."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Giraffe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mesa when we get a lot of Guinea pigs fortifying playing cards?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Mister Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" harangued Mister Giraffe.

"Appoint a committee?" interpreted Mister Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Giraffe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squealed Mister Hedgehog fiercely, 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 Giraffe solemnly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," burbled Mister Hedgehog sleepily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on his front porch, looking out over the mesa and growling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Giraffe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mister Giraffe admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied miserably.