Mister Hawk And The New Neighbor

Mister Hawk lived in a badlands area in a villa made of cornstalks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Raven standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Raven," Mister Hawk avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," provoked Mister Raven. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wailed Mister Hawk quickly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mister Raven. I just want to ask you what you think of the fish that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," rebutted Mister Hawk. "I didn't know about any fish. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," acknowledged Mister Raven hysterically. "I heard that this fish likes to ruin guns."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Raven, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of fish ruining guns?"

"I can't imagine," wailed Mister Hawk.

"What are we going to do about it?" giggled Mister Raven.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Mister Hawk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Raven had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," voiced Mister Hawk defiantly, 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 Mister Raven lovingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cackled Mister Hawk glumly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and yawning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Raven. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniped Mister Raven fervently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hawk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sharply.