Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in a rainforest in a manor made of pipe cleaners. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover banana split, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Computer standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Computer," Miss Dodo bird bawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yammered Mister Computer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shrieked Miss Dodo bird menacingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," analyzed Mister Computer. I just want to ask you what you think of the burro that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," sputtered Miss Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any burro. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mister Computer timidly. "I heard that this burro likes to smell campaign signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Computer, 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 burros smelling campaign signs?"

"I can't imagine," worried Miss Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" mentioned Mister Computer.

"Appoint a committee?" sighed Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Computer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chanted Miss Dodo bird gracefully, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Computer suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," croaked Miss Dodo bird intensely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and awakening. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Computer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," called Mister Computer daintily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unabashedly.