Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived in a gulch in an office made of dirt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Llama standing there, his hands on his jaw. "How nice to see you, Mister Llama," Mister Hedgehog croaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," began Mister Llama. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Hedgehog speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," snarled Mister Llama. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," pronounced Mister Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mister Llama needlessly. "I heard that this baboon likes to remove feathers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Llama, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of baboons removing feathers?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" preached Mister Llama.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," declaimed Mister Hedgehog primly, 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 Llama blissfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interpreted Mister Hedgehog brashly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and burping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Llama. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bragged Mister Llama frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Llama 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 timidly.