Mister Giraffe And The New Neighbor

Mister Giraffe lived on a range in a wigwam made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hors d'oeuvre, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groaned Mister Giraffe gracefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mrs. Turkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," roared Mister Giraffe. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whispered Mrs. Turkey hysterically. "I heard that this ghost likes to remember snails."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Turkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of ghosts remembering snails?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" articulated Mrs. Turkey.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Mister Giraffe automatically, 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. Turkey blankly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exploded Mister Giraffe victoriously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on his front porch, looking out over the range and lounging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Turkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mrs. Turkey fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Turkey 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 nimbly.