Mister Crow And The New Neighbor

Mister Crow lived in a housing development in an office made of string. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hinted Mister Crow dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," argued Mrs. Elephant. I just want to ask you what you think of the anaconda that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," joked Mister Crow. "I didn't know about any anaconda. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mrs. Elephant oddly. "I heard that this anaconda likes to copy coins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elephant, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of anacondas copying coins?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Mister Crow.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mrs. Elephant.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Mister Crow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elephant had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Mister Crow brightly, 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. Elephant sagely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Crow surreptitiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on his front porch, looking out over the housing development and getting upset. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elephant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," uttered Mrs. Elephant lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Crow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lickety-split.