Mister Goose And The New Neighbor

Mister Goose lived in a village in a townhouse made of slate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, 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 Turkey standing there, his hands on his pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mister Turkey," Mister Goose pointed out, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," nattered Mister Turkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intimated Mister Goose firmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," expressed Mister Turkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the aardvark that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," quoted Mister Goose. "I didn't know about any aardvark. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," provoked Mister Turkey nervously. "I heard that this aardvark likes to unfasten muffins."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Turkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of aardvarks unfastening muffins?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" joked Mister Turkey.

"Appoint a committee?" bellowed Mister Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Turkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," urged Mister Goose sorrowfully, 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 Turkey dolefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," voiced Mister Goose wearily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the village and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Turkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gasped Mister Turkey carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied majestically.