Miss Gecko And The New Neighbor

Miss Gecko lived in a cesspool in a houseboat made of concrete. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sauerkraut, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Canary standing there, his hands on his big toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Canary," Miss Gecko insisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fretted Mister Canary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quoted Miss Gecko sadly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," blurted Mister Canary. I just want to ask you what you think of the fish that's come to the cesspool.

"I really don't know," panted Miss Gecko. "I didn't know about any fish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mister Canary arrogantly. "I heard that this fish likes to duplicate radios."

"Um, I don't know what to say," hissed Miss Gecko, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Canary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cesspool when we get a lot of fish duplicating radios?"

"I can't imagine," retorted Miss Gecko.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Canary.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Miss Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Canary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bellowed Miss Gecko effortlessly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Canary thoughtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Miss Gecko cheerfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the cesspool and sneezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Canary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniped Mister Canary sweetly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Gecko thought she had answered, and was beginning to get stubborn. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Canary doing these days?"

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

Miss Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied admiringly.