Mister Porcupine And The New Neighbor

Mister Porcupine lived in a badlands area in a skyscraper made of ice. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Muskrat standing there, her hands on her tail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Muskrat," Mister Porcupine analyzed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mrs. Muskrat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" growled Mister Porcupine humbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mrs. Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the pheasant that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," burbled Mister Porcupine. "I didn't know about any pheasant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mrs. Muskrat curiously. "I heard that this pheasant likes to get flash drives."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of pheasants getting flash drives?"

"I can't imagine," simpered Mister Porcupine.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mrs. Muskrat.

"Appoint a committee?" demanded Mister Porcupine, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Muskrat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Muskrat fondly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," whimpered Mister Porcupine slowly, 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. Muskrat fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," boasted Mister Porcupine warily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and waking up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," indicated Mrs. Muskrat quickly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Porcupine sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unabashedly.