Mister Chicken And The New Neighbor

Mister Chicken lived in a cesspool in a trough made of yarn. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Worm standing there, her hands on her tongue. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Worm," Mister Chicken guessed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," gabbed Mrs. Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Mister Chicken delicately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," said Mrs. Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the beetle that's come to the cesspool.

"I really don't know," quoted Mister Chicken. "I didn't know about any beetle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mrs. Worm thoughtfully. "I heard that this beetle likes to pluck carrots."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cesspool when we get a lot of beetles plucking carrots?"

"I can't imagine," called Mister Chicken.

"What are we going to do about it?" spouted Mrs. Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" gabbed Mister Chicken, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Worm had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Worm sternly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," hinted Mister Chicken joyously, 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. Worm shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pronounced Mister Chicken deftly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on his front porch, looking out over the cesspool and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," winked Mrs. Worm primly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Chicken sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fiercely.