Mister Camel And The New Neighbor

Mister Camel lived on a trail in a Spanish colonial made of bronze. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Unicorn standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Unicorn," Mister Camel bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," demanded Mister Unicorn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelped Mister Camel sternly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," concluded Mister Unicorn. I just want to ask you what you think of the tiger that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," inquired Mister Camel. "I didn't know about any tiger. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rumored Mister Unicorn patiently. "I heard that this tiger likes to destroy piggy banks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Unicorn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of tigers destroying piggy banks?"

"I can't imagine," joked Mister Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" demanded Mister Unicorn.

"Appoint a committee?" clarified Mister Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Unicorn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," queried Mister Camel bravely, 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 Unicorn sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," uttered Mister Camel languidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on his front porch, looking out over the trail and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Unicorn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," crooned Mister Unicorn roughly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brightly.