Mister Butterfly And The New Neighbor

Mister Butterfly lived in a field in a housing project made of Kevlar. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Bumblebee standing there, his hands on his dignity. "How nice to see you, Mister Bumblebee," Mister Butterfly complained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," provoked Mister Bumblebee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vouched Mister Butterfly cautiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mudslide?"

"I can't stay," amended Mister Bumblebee. I just want to ask you what you think of the Doberman that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," maintained Mister Butterfly. "I didn't know about any Doberman. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chimed Mister Bumblebee timidly. "I heard that this Doberman likes to reposition toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bumblebee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of Dobermans repositioning toothbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," thought Mister Butterfly.

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mister Bumblebee.

"Appoint a committee?" revealed Mister Butterfly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bumblebee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sneered Mister Butterfly obediently, 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 Bumblebee blindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," commented Mister Butterfly suddenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the field and exhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bumblebee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mister Bumblebee narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Butterfly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied daringly.