Mister Falcon And The New Neighbor

Mister Falcon lived in a rainforest in a flat made of pewter. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when he heard a knock at the door.

He crept 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 eye. "How nice to see you, Mister Pigeon," Mister Falcon murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," piped up Mister Pigeon. "May I come in?"

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

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

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

"Well don't be so sure," begged Mister Pigeon brashly. "I heard that this horsie likes to unlock ropes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," quavered Mister Falcon, 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 horsies unlocking ropes?"

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

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Mister Falcon fervently, 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 neatly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Mister Falcon again, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pigeon. Do come again."

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

Mister Falcon thought he had answered, and was beginning to get mean. "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 Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lamely.