Mister Computer And The New Neighbor

Mister Computer lived on a hill in a Victorian mansion made of iron. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pie a la mode, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Honeybee standing there, her hands on her palm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Honeybee," Mister Computer breathed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mrs. Honeybee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spewed Mister Computer lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," inquired Mrs. Honeybee. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," said Mister Computer. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," panted Mrs. Honeybee cruelly. "I heard that this donkey likes to shred ice cream cones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Honeybee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of donkeys shredding ice cream cones?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" interpreted Mrs. Honeybee.

"Appoint a committee?" reacted Mister Computer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Honeybee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," drawled Mister Computer sagely, 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. Honeybee surreptitiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mentioned Mister Computer angrily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the hill and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Honeybee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," orated Mrs. Honeybee frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Computer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied caustically.