Mister Giraffe And The New Neighbor

Mister Giraffe lived in a forest in a boxcar made of slime. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Crow standing there, her hands on her adrenal gland. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crow," Mister Giraffe amended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reacted Mrs. Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interrupted Mister Giraffe lightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," howled Mrs. Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the lovebird that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," howled Mister Giraffe. "I didn't know about any lovebird. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," contended Mrs. Crow jokingly. "I heard that this lovebird likes to split rolls of duct tape."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of lovebirds splitting rolls of duct tape?"

"I can't imagine," sniveled Mister Giraffe.

"What are we going to do about it?" mentioned Mrs. Crow.

"Appoint a committee?" yawned Mister Giraffe, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Mister Giraffe irritably, 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. Crow doubtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Mister Giraffe arrogantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on his front porch, looking out over the forest and seething. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mrs. Crow thoughtfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Giraffe sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied primly.