Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived in an arroyo in a penthouse made of flax. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Pekingese standing there, his hands on his liver. "How nice to see you, Mister Pekingese," Mister German Shepherd sneered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," guessed Mister Pekingese. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," mentioned Mister Pekingese. I just want to ask you what you think of the dog that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," reacted Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any dog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," articulated Mister Pekingese uneasily. "I heard that this dog likes to push coupons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," guessed Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Pekingese, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of dogs pushing coupons?"

"I can't imagine," screeched Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" fumed Mister Pekingese.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pekingese had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mentioned Mister German Shepherd sternly, 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 Pekingese hungrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Mister German Shepherd dreamily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and clattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pekingese. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smiled Mister Pekingese brightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied hysterically.