Mister Beaver And The New Neighbor

Mister Beaver lived in a backyard in a Victorian mansion made of moss. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Dolphin standing there, his hands on his heart. "How nice to see you, Mister Dolphin," Mister Beaver retorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chortled Mister Dolphin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blathered Mister Beaver wildly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," lectured Mister Dolphin. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," exclaimed Mister Beaver. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," nattered Mister Dolphin nicely. "I heard that this elephant likes to pluck bird feeders."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dolphin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of elephants plucking bird feeders?"

"I can't imagine," pointed out Mister Beaver.

"What are we going to do about it?" voiced Mister Dolphin.

"Appoint a committee?" agreed Mister Beaver, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dolphin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Beaver stupidly, 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 Dolphin stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cajoled Mister Beaver steadily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the backyard and primping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dolphin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mister Dolphin stupidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beaver sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied peevishly.