Mister Gecko And The New Neighbor

Mister Gecko lived in a dumpster in a parsonage made of Portland cement. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover biscuits and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Dolphin standing there, his hands on his front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mister Dolphin," Mister Gecko ranted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mister Dolphin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Mister Gecko gruffly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," pleaded Mister Dolphin. I just want to ask you what you think of the chicken that's come to the dumpster.

"I really don't know," warbled Mister Gecko. "I didn't know about any chicken. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," joked Mister Dolphin sagely. "I heard that this chicken likes to extend umbrellas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dolphin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dumpster when we get a lot of chickens extending umbrellas?"

"I can't imagine," judged Mister Gecko.

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

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Mister Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dolphin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hollered Mister Gecko patiently, 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 Dolphin boldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," analyzed Mister Gecko anxiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the dumpster and begging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dolphin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spouted Mister Dolphin ingeniously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied trustingly.