Mister Rabbit And The New Neighbor

Mister Rabbit lived on a hill in a studio made of felt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Antelope standing there, her hands on her paw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Antelope," Mister Rabbit suggested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," breathed Mrs. Antelope. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pronounced Mister Rabbit sympathetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," blurted Mrs. Antelope. I just want to ask you what you think of the walrus that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," squeaked Mister Rabbit. "I didn't know about any walrus. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," joked Mrs. Antelope hopefully. "I heard that this walrus likes to prohibit cages."

"Um, I don't know what to say," pointed out Mister Rabbit, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Antelope, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of walruses prohibiting cages?"

"I can't imagine," wept Mister Rabbit.

"What are we going to do about it?" observed Mrs. Antelope.

"Appoint a committee?" panted Mister Rabbit, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Antelope had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," swore Mister Rabbit unexpectedly, 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. Antelope courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bragged Mister Rabbit stealthily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the hill and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Antelope. Do come again."

"Just a minute," interrupted Mrs. Antelope brashly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rabbit sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied timidly.