Mister Beagle And The New Neighbor

Mister Beagle lived in a jungle in a wigwam made of sweat and toil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Beetle standing there, his hands on his back. "How nice to see you, Mister Beetle," Mister Beagle jeered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mister Beetle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mused Mister Beagle woodenly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chocolate milk?"

"I can't stay," trumpeted Mister Beetle. I just want to ask you what you think of the brine shrimp that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," concluded Mister Beagle. "I didn't know about any brine shrimp. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," thought Mister Beetle sheepishly. "I heard that this brine shrimp likes to load mushrooms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Beetle, 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 brine shrimp loading mushrooms?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Mister Beagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" whined Mister Beetle.

"Appoint a committee?" nattered Mister Beagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Beetle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Mister Beagle numbly, 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 Beetle tenderly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Mister Beagle threateningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and hiccuping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Beetle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mister Beetle dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied excitedly.