Mister Dalmatian And The New Neighbor

Mister Dalmatian lived in a field in a brownstone made of pillows. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Opossum standing there, his hands on his belly button. "How nice to see you, Mister Opossum," Mister Dalmatian rationalized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," requested Mister Opossum. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rebutted Mister Dalmatian slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of fruit punch?"

"I can't stay," moaned Mister Opossum. I just want to ask you what you think of the parakeet that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," squealed Mister Dalmatian. "I didn't know about any parakeet. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lamented Mister Opossum energetically. "I heard that this parakeet likes to strengthen Egyptian mummies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Opossum, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of parakeets strengthening Egyptian mummies?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Mister Dalmatian.

"What are we going to do about it?" pointed out Mister Opossum.

"Appoint a committee?" croaked Mister Dalmatian, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Opossum had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hummed Mister Dalmatian immediately, 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 Opossum numbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reacted Mister Dalmatian curiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on his front porch, looking out over the field and smiling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Opossum. Do come again."

"Just a minute," concluded Mister Opossum lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dalmatian sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied shyly.