Mister Partridge And The New Neighbor

Mister Partridge lived on a savanna in an A-frame made of foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Giraffe standing there, her hands on her piehole. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Giraffe," Mister Partridge breathed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," scoffed Mrs. Giraffe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" persisted Mister Partridge crankily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," commented Mrs. Giraffe. I just want to ask you what you think of the lion that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," accused Mister Partridge. "I didn't know about any lion. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mrs. Giraffe ingeniously. "I heard that this lion likes to whirl toys."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Giraffe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of lions whirling toys?"

"I can't imagine," asserted Mister Partridge.

"What are we going to do about it?" roared Mrs. Giraffe.

"Appoint a committee?" cajoled Mister Partridge, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Giraffe had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Giraffe humbly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," piped up Mister Partridge sadly, 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 Mrs. Giraffe merrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smirked Mister Partridge deftly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Giraffe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," taunted Mrs. Giraffe haughtily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Partridge sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied automatically.