Mister Magpie And The New Neighbor

Mister Magpie lived on a beach in an office made of recycled newspaper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ice cream, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Worm standing there, her hands on her ego. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Worm," Mister Magpie sniffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Mister Magpie accidentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Cuba libre?"

"I can't stay," offered Mrs. Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," sobbed Mister Magpie. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," voiced Mrs. Worm sagely. "I heard that this wolf likes to hack stamps."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of wolves hacking stamps?"

"I can't imagine," snarled Mister Magpie.

"What are we going to do about it?" insisted Mrs. Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" uttered Mister Magpie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," commented Mister Magpie 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. Worm blissfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," added Mister Magpie breathlessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the beach and lounging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quavered Mrs. Worm peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Magpie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied defiantly.