Mister Horsie And The New Neighbor

Mister Horsie lived on a mountaintop in a housing project made of cow pies. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Parrot standing there, his hands on his toenail. "How nice to see you, Mister Parrot," Mister Horsie spewed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," begged Mister Parrot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Mister Horsie courageously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," cajoled Mister Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the elk that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," contended Mister Horsie. "I didn't know about any elk. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mister Parrot hungrily. "I heard that this elk likes to consider Kindles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Parrot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of elk considering Kindles?"

"I can't imagine," pleaded Mister Horsie.

"What are we going to do about it?" expressed Mister Parrot.

"Appoint a committee?" panted Mister Horsie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Parrot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," contended Mister Horsie trustingly, 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 Parrot fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hollered Mister Horsie patiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Parrot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mister Parrot surreptitiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Horsie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied wearily.