Mister Raven And The New Neighbor

Mister Raven lived on a path in a cabin made of Tyvek. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Bullfrog standing there, his hands on his eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Bullfrog," Mister Raven pleaded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," commented Mister Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groveled Mister Raven hopefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey sour?"

"I can't stay," prattled Mister Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," mentioned Mister Raven. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chimed Mister Bullfrog busily. "I heard that this giraffe likes to hack basketballs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of giraffes hacking basketballs?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Raven.

"What are we going to do about it?" lectured Mister Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" interpreted Mister Raven, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wondered Mister Raven 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 Bullfrog pityingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," instructed Mister Raven sternly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the path and chanting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," informed Mister Bullfrog carefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Raven sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied woodenly.