Mister Llama And The New Neighbor

Mister Llama lived in a village in a junk car made of rope. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mouse standing there, his hands on his shin. "How nice to see you, Mister Mouse," Mister Llama disputed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mister Mouse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" suggested Mister Llama mysteriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Mouse. I just want to ask you what you think of the warthog that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Llama. "I didn't know about any warthog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," thought Mister Mouse shyly. "I heard that this warthog likes to review ice cream cones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mouse, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of warthogs reviewing ice cream cones?"

"I can't imagine," declared Mister Llama.

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

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Mister Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mouse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Mister Llama ingeniously, 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 Mouse gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," informed Mister Llama properly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the village and squinting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mouse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," purred Mister Mouse lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied suspiciously.