Mister Peacock And The New Neighbor

Mister Peacock lived on a range in a yurt made of pine logs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Goose standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Goose," Mister Peacock sighed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," growled Mister Goose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" debated Mister Peacock tearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mai Tai?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mister Goose. I just want to ask you what you think of the gnu that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," sighed Mister Peacock. "I didn't know about any gnu. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," admitted Mister Goose fervently. "I heard that this gnu likes to measure Big Gulps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goose, 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 gnus measureing Big Gulps?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Mister Peacock.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mister Goose.

"Appoint a committee?" bragged Mister Peacock, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," retorted Mister Peacock sleepily, 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 Goose cunningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spouted Mister Peacock reluctantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the range and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," maintained Mister Goose crossly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Peacock sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied vigorously.