Mister Raven And The New Neighbor

Mister Raven lived in a buffalo wallow in a housing project made of denim. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Orangutan standing there, her hands on her spine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Orangutan," Mister Raven peeped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hollered Mrs. Orangutan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" roared Mister Raven nervously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," implored Mrs. Orangutan. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," tittered Mister Raven. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," questioned Mrs. Orangutan repeatedly. "I heard that this hornet likes to hit bells."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Orangutan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of hornets hitting bells?"

"I can't imagine," noted Mister Raven.

"What are we going to do about it?" answered Mrs. Orangutan.

"Appoint a committee?" suggested Mister Raven, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Orangutan had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quavered Mister Raven majestically, 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. Orangutan positively. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Mister Raven shyly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on his front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and growling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Orangutan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniped Mrs. Orangutan gently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Raven sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied doubtfully.