Mister Rooster And The New Neighbor

Mister Rooster lived in a lagoon in a dugout made of cold rolled steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oyster on the half-shell, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Deer standing there, his hands on his tail. "How nice to see you, Mister Deer," Mister Rooster avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mister Deer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Mister Rooster majestically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," said Mister Deer. I just want to ask you what you think of the koala that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," blurted Mister Rooster. "I didn't know about any koala. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wailed Mister Deer smoothly. "I heard that this koala likes to kill elephant tusks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Deer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of koalas killing elephant tusks?"

"I can't imagine," exclaimed Mister Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" cackled Mister Deer.

"Appoint a committee?" clarified Mister Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Deer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," offered Mister Rooster clumsily, 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 Deer strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pointed out Mister Rooster neatly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the filing cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the lagoon and trembling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Deer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screeched Mister Deer glibly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied steadily.