Mister Mule And The New Neighbor

Mister Mule lived in a circus tent in a wikiup made of chicken wire. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tacos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mouse standing there, his hands on his thorax. "How nice to see you, Mister Mouse," Mister Mule laughed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boasted Mister Mouse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" expressed Mister Mule queerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Mouse. I just want to ask you what you think of the iguana that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," expressed Mister Mule. "I didn't know about any iguana. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mister Mouse slowly. "I heard that this iguana likes to boil garbage cans."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mouse, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of iguanas boiling garbage cans?"

"I can't imagine," concluded Mister Mule.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mister Mouse.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Mister Mule, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mouse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," lectured Mister Mule brashly, 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 Mouse hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Mister Mule awkwardly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mouse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," contended Mister Mouse sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mule sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied busily.