Mister Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Mister Prairie dog lived on a range in an igloo made of mahogany. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Llama standing there, his hands on his thyroid gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Llama," Mister Prairie dog protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," announced Mister Llama. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelped Mister Prairie dog hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," cajoled Mister Llama. I just want to ask you what you think of the hyena that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," stated Mister Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any hyena. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelped Mister Llama fondly. "I heard that this hyena likes to smear Barbie dolls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," retorted Mister Prairie dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Llama, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of hyenas smearing Barbie dolls?"

"I can't imagine," rebutted Mister Prairie dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" preached Mister Llama.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Mister Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Llama had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," gabbed Mister Prairie dog sorrowfully, 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 Llama jokingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," appealed Mister Prairie dog angrily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the range and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Llama. Do come again."

"Just a minute," griped Mister Llama fiercely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied queerly.