Mister Whale And The New Neighbor

Mister Whale lived in a rainforest in a condominium made of matchsticks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage rolls, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Pigeon standing there, his hands on his spleen. "How nice to see you, Mister Pigeon," Mister Whale hollered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," purred Mister Pigeon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" commented Mister Whale neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," answered Mister Pigeon. I just want to ask you what you think of the wallaby that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," appealed Mister Whale. "I didn't know about any wallaby. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screeched Mister Pigeon sternly. "I heard that this wallaby likes to drench charts."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pigeon, 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 wallabies drenching charts?"

"I can't imagine," exploded Mister Whale.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mister Pigeon.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Mister Whale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pigeon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pronounced Mister Whale cruelly, 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 Pigeon strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," explained Mister Whale thankfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and coming back. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pigeon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mister Pigeon anxiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Whale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied miserably.