Mister Anteater And The New Neighbor

Mister Anteater lived in a forest in a spa made of antimatter. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover falafel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Grizzly bear standing there, her hands on her fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Grizzly bear," Mister Anteater remarked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vowed Mrs. Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Mister Anteater reluctantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," remarked Mrs. Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the turkey that's come to the forest.

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

"Well don't be so sure," questioned Mrs. Grizzly bear sourly. "I heard that this turkey likes to recommend rubber chickens."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Grizzly bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of turkeys recommending rubber chickens?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" lamented Mrs. Grizzly bear.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Mister Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Grizzly bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Grizzly bear bitterly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," explained Mister Anteater silently, 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. Grizzly bear curiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," concluded Mister Anteater innocently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the forest and inhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Grizzly bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pronounced Mrs. Grizzly bear timidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Grizzly bear 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 truculently.