Mister Parakeet And The New Neighbor

Mister Parakeet lived at a seashore in a geodesic dome made of fiberglass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mustang standing there, her hands on her elbow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mustang," Mister Parakeet joked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," complained Mrs. Mustang. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Mister Parakeet blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," mused Mrs. Mustang. I just want to ask you what you think of the android that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," began Mister Parakeet. "I didn't know about any android. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Mustang firmly. "I heard that this android likes to observe vacuum cleaners."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mustang, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of androids observing vacuum cleaners?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" added Mrs. Mustang.

"Appoint a committee?" remarked Mister Parakeet, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mustang had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Mister Parakeet violently, 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. Mustang crankily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Mister Parakeet stupidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and growing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mustang. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mrs. Mustang temperamentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Parakeet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warily.