Mister Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Dodo bird lived in a briar patch in a yurt made of pillows. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Prairie dog standing there, his hands on his toenail. "How nice to see you, Mister Prairie dog," Mister Dodo bird rebutted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declaimed Mister Prairie dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Mister Dodo bird irritably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," recited Mister Prairie dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," hummed Mister Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," jeered Mister Prairie dog despondently. "I heard that this toad likes to flatten mousetraps."

"Um, I don't know what to say," boasted Mister Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Prairie dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of toads flattening mousetraps?"

"I can't imagine," yammered Mister Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelped Mister Prairie dog.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Mister Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Prairie dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Prairie dog mysteriously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," prattled Mister Dodo bird temperamentally, 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 Prairie dog steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Mister Dodo bird immediately, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and crouching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Prairie dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mister Prairie dog frenetically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied curiously.