Mister Sheep And The New Neighbor

Mister Sheep lived in a rainforest in a crypt made of flour paste. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Bat standing there, her hands on her big toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bat," Mister Sheep chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," argued Mrs. Bat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Mister Sheep sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mrs. Bat. I just want to ask you what you think of the pigeon that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," winked Mister Sheep. "I didn't know about any pigeon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," belched Mrs. Bat languidly. "I heard that this pigeon likes to wipe fishing rods."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of pigeons wiping fishing rods?"

"I can't imagine," yowled Mister Sheep.

"What are we going to do about it?" argued Mrs. Bat.

"Appoint a committee?" contended Mister Sheep, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yowled Mister Sheep fearlessly, 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. Bat clumsily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smirked Mister Sheep fiercely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and staring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," uttered Mrs. Bat lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Sheep sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied recklessly.