Mister Gila Monster And The New Neighbor

Mister Gila monster lived on a trail in a treehouse made of chicken wire. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chopped liver, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mosquito standing there, his hands on his waist. "How nice to see you, Mister Mosquito," Mister Gila monster sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mister Mosquito. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Mister Gila monster fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," orated Mister Mosquito. I just want to ask you what you think of the poodle that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," called Mister Gila monster. "I didn't know about any poodle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stuttered Mister Mosquito coolly. "I heard that this poodle likes to cover magnets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," debated Mister Gila monster, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Mosquito, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of poodles covering magnets?"

"I can't imagine," interpreted Mister Gila monster.

"What are we going to do about it?" admitted Mister Mosquito.

"Appoint a committee?" worried Mister Gila monster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mosquito had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stormed Mister Gila monster crossly, 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 Mosquito carefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Mister Gila monster noisily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on his front porch, looking out over the trail and scribbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mosquito. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shuddered Mister Mosquito strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gila monster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied admiringly.