Mister Burro And The New Neighbor

Mister Burro lived on a butte in a wikiup made of wicker. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reasoned Mister Burro valiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," bragged Mrs. Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the muskrat that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," drawled Mister Burro. "I didn't know about any muskrat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grunted Mrs. Ostrich crossly. "I heard that this muskrat likes to overlook spools of thread."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ostrich, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of muskrats overlooking spools of thread?"

"I can't imagine," tittered Mister Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mrs. Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Mister Burro, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Mister Burro boldly, 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. Ostrich hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cackled Mister Burro primly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the butte and smiling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," ranted Mrs. Ostrich valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied tenderly.