Mister Colt And The New Neighbor

Mister Colt lived on a moonscape in a wigwam made of linoleum. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bonbons, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Eagle standing there, her hands on her brain. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eagle," Mister Colt revealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squeaked Mrs. Eagle. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," responded Mrs. Eagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the wallaby that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," peeped Mister Colt. "I didn't know about any wallaby. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," begged Mrs. Eagle slyly. "I heard that this wallaby likes to compress corncobs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eagle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of wallabies compressing corncobs?"

"I can't imagine," requested Mister Colt.

"What are we going to do about it?" exploded Mrs. Eagle.

"Appoint a committee?" queried Mister Colt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eagle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mentioned Mister Colt woodenly, 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. Eagle anxiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," imitated Mister Colt joyously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gasped Mrs. Eagle confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Colt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied impatiently.