Mister Buzzard And The New Neighbor

Mister Buzzard lived in a countryside in a hovel made of tempered glass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Musk-ox standing there, her hands on her chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Musk-ox," Mister Buzzard chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," requested Mrs. Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yowled Mister Buzzard tensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a painkiller?"

"I can't stay," exploded Mrs. Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the yak that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," imitated Mister Buzzard. "I didn't know about any yak. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniped Mrs. Musk-ox sternly. "I heard that this yak likes to split whistles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of yaks splitting whistles?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Mister Buzzard.

"What are we going to do about it?" groveled Mrs. Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" bragged Mister Buzzard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Musk-ox narrowly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," protested Mister Buzzard unnaturally, 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. Musk-ox joyously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Mister Buzzard again, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and catching up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mrs. Musk-ox hopelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Buzzard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied furiously.