Mister Goat And The New Neighbor

Mister Goat lived in a bog in a motel made of peanut shells. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hot dogs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Zebra standing there, her hands on her pinky. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Zebra," Mister Goat babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mrs. Zebra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Mister Goat numbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," whispered Mrs. Zebra. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," contended Mister Goat. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interrupted Mrs. Zebra gently. "I heard that this giraffe likes to bless pictures."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Zebra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of giraffes blessing pictures?"

"I can't imagine," avowed Mister Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" declaimed Mrs. Zebra.

"Appoint a committee?" lamented Mister Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Zebra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Mister Goat charmingly, 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. Zebra later. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Mister Goat unnaturally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on his front porch, looking out over the bog and swaying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Zebra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screeched Mrs. Zebra stealthily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unabashedly.