Mister Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Dodo bird lived in a housing development in a brownstone made of deer hide. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Gecko standing there, her hands on her Adam's apple. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gecko," Mister Dodo bird bawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," trumpeted Mrs. Gecko. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blathered Mister Dodo bird grandly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," shuddered Mrs. Gecko. I just want to ask you what you think of the panther that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," blurted Mister Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any panther. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," peeped Mrs. Gecko urgently. "I heard that this panther likes to leave whoopee cushions."

"Um, I don't know what to say," yowled Mister Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gecko, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of panthers leaving whoopee cushions?"

"I can't imagine," informed Mister Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" mentioned Mrs. Gecko.

"Appoint a committee?" cried Mister Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gecko had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," opined Mister Dodo bird brightly, 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. Gecko automatically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exclaimed Mister Dodo bird narrowly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the housing development and sweating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gecko. Do come again."

"Just a minute," amended Mrs. Gecko uselessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied automatically.