Mister Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Mister Dromedary lived alongside a stream in a penthouse made of gravel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Bear standing there, his hands on his pinky. "How nice to see you, Mister Bear," Mister Dromedary argued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," joked Mister Bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yammered Mister Dromedary sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," informed Mister Bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the gazelle that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," asked Mister Dromedary. "I didn't know about any gazelle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mister Bear shyly. "I heard that this gazelle likes to dust campaign signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of gazelles dusting campaign signs?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Mister Dromedary.

"What are we going to do about it?" emphasized Mister Bear.

"Appoint a committee?" revealed Mister Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bear had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," ranted Mister Dromedary 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 Bear stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Mister Dromedary gratefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on his front porch, looking out over the stream and getting sleepy. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mister Bear arrogantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied menacingly.