Mister Falcon And The New Neighbor

Mister Falcon lived at a lakeside in a chalet made of pipe. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Frog standing there, his hands on his funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mister Frog," Mister Falcon yelled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bellowed Mister Frog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whimpered Mister Falcon gratefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," boomed Mister Frog. I just want to ask you what you think of the spider that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," chortled Mister Falcon. "I didn't know about any spider. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pronounced Mister Frog swiftly. "I heard that this spider likes to punch darts."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Frog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of spiders punching darts?"

"I can't imagine," raved Mister Falcon.

"What are we going to do about it?" requested Mister Frog.

"Appoint a committee?" appealed Mister Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Frog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Mister Falcon swiftly, 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 Frog strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cried Mister Falcon coldly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on his front porch, looking out over the lakeside and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Frog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mister Frog nimbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quickly.