Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived in a marsh in a treehouse made of straw. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Lamb standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lamb," Mister German Shepherd wondered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mrs. Lamb. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" scoffed Mister German Shepherd deftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," grunted Mrs. Lamb. I just want to ask you what you think of the lemur that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," spewed Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any lemur. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mrs. Lamb lovingly. "I heard that this lemur likes to jump on mushrooms."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sobbed Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lamb, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of lemurs jumping on mushrooms?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" laughed Mrs. Lamb.

"Appoint a committee?" clarified Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lamb had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," groveled Mister German Shepherd curiously, 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. Lamb suddenly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Mister German Shepherd swiftly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and coughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lamb. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bellowed Mrs. Lamb obediently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bravely.