Miss Canary And The New Neighbor

Miss Canary lived in a marsh in a box made of flax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Lion standing there, his hands on his larynx. "How nice to see you, Mister Lion," Miss Canary squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mister Lion. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" peeped Miss Canary brashly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," explained Mister Lion. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," chortled Miss Canary. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," boomed Mister Lion kindly. "I heard that this wolf likes to slam cigarettes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," lamented Miss Canary, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Lion, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of wolves slamming cigarettes?"

"I can't imagine," noted Miss Canary.

"What are we going to do about it?" smirked Mister Lion.

"Appoint a committee?" divulged Miss Canary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lion had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bellowed Miss Canary truculently, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Lion fearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," agreed Miss Canary rapidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lion. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mumbled Mister Lion trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Canary thought she had answered, and was beginning to get muddled. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Lion doing these days?"

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

Miss Canary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sweetly.