Mister Canary And The New Neighbor

Mister Canary lived in a neighborhood in a spa made of foam. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Pig standing there, his hands on his spine. "How nice to see you, Mister Pig," Mister Canary suggested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stated Mister Pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spouted Mister Canary happily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," imitated Mister Pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," opined Mister Canary. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," disputed Mister Pig accidentally. "I heard that this crow likes to remember plaques."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of crows remembering plaques?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Canary.

"What are we going to do about it?" stammered Mister Pig.

"Appoint a committee?" bawled Mister Canary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pig had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," brought up Mister Canary slyly, 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 Pig timidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Mister Canary blindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and coming to. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mister Pig roughly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Canary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied briskly.