Mister Anteater And The New Neighbor

Mister Anteater lived on a savanna in a houseboat made of buffalo hides. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Otter standing there, his hands on his claw. "How nice to see you, Mister Otter," Mister Anteater murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," giggled Mister Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Mister Anteater ignobly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a shot of whiskey?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister Otter. I just want to ask you what you think of the Guinea pig that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," indicated Mister Anteater. "I didn't know about any Guinea pig. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," indicated Mister Otter coldly. "I heard that this Guinea pig likes to slam stuffed bunnies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Otter, 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 Guinea pigs slamming stuffed bunnies?"

"I can't imagine," maintained Mister Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" winked Mister Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Mister Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," swore Mister Anteater languidly, 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 Otter excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Mister Anteater caustically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and shaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grieved Mister Otter crossly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied immediately.