Mister Raccoon And The New Neighbor

Mister Raccoon lived on a hillside in a wikiup made of brick. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Rattlesnake standing there, his hands on his elbow. "How nice to see you, Mister Rattlesnake," Mister Raccoon cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fumed Mister Rattlesnake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" gabbed Mister Raccoon ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mister Rattlesnake. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," complained Mister Raccoon. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," indicated Mister Rattlesnake ruefully. "I heard that this elephant likes to grip maps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rattlesnake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of elephants gripping maps?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Mister Raccoon.

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mister Rattlesnake.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Mister Raccoon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rattlesnake had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stated Mister Raccoon strictly, 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 Rattlesnake briskly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wondered Mister Raccoon lamely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on his front porch, looking out over the hillside and primping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rattlesnake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asked Mister Rattlesnake properly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Raccoon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cheerfully.