Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived in a desert in a housing project made of cow pies. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Eel standing there, her hands on her throat. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eel," Mister Yak babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mrs. Eel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" crooned Mister Yak viciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," realized Mrs. Eel. I just want to ask you what you think of the bull that's come to the desert.

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

"Well don't be so sure," articulated Mrs. Eel nonchalantly. "I heard that this bull likes to re-evaluate magnifying glasses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of bulls re-evaluating magnifying glasses?"

"I can't imagine," chortled Mister Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" boasted Mrs. Eel.

"Appoint a committee?" yelped Mister Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," urged Mister Yak later, 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. Eel truculently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exclaimed Mister Yak greedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on his front porch, looking out over the desert and doodling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mrs. Eel woefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied suavely.