Mister Tsetse Fly And The New Neighbor

Mister Tsetse fly lived on a hill in a mobile home made of plywood. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ostrich standing there, her hands on her heart. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ostrich," Mister Tsetse fly raved, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," inquired Mrs. Ostrich. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Mister Tsetse fly warmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," roared Mrs. Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," vouched Mister Tsetse fly. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," questioned Mrs. Ostrich warily. "I heard that this ghost likes to rebuild pop bottles."

"Um, I don't know what to say," boasted Mister Tsetse fly, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ostrich, 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 ghosts rebuilding pop bottles?"

"I can't imagine," gasped Mister Tsetse fly.

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mrs. Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" blustered Mister Tsetse fly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," griped Mister Tsetse fly courteously, 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. Ostrich innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Mister Tsetse fly blissfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the hill and purring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," affirmed Mrs. Ostrich immediately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Tsetse fly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carelessly.