Mister Musk-ox And The New Neighbor

Mister Musk-ox lived in a briar patch in a nunnery made of walnut. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Beetle standing there, her hands on her spine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beetle," Mister Musk-ox intoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," joked Mrs. Beetle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" concluded Mister Musk-ox lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," responded Mrs. Beetle. I just want to ask you what you think of the parrot that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," warbled Mister Musk-ox. "I didn't know about any parrot. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mrs. Beetle patiently. "I heard that this parrot likes to throw pencil sharpeners."

"Um, I don't know what to say," yelped Mister Musk-ox, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beetle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of parrots throwing pencil sharpeners?"

"I can't imagine," sniveled Mister Musk-ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" reacted Mrs. Beetle.

"Appoint a committee?" yammered Mister Musk-ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beetle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," inquired Mister Musk-ox grandly, 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. Beetle gruffly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniffed Mister Musk-ox threateningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beetle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chanted Mrs. Beetle cleverly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Musk-ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied clumsily.