Mister Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Dodo bird lived on a steppe in a teepee made of twigs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Elk standing there, his hands on his horn. "How nice to see you, Mister Elk," Mister Dodo bird mentioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interrupted Mister Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" indicated Mister Dodo bird silently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," yowled Mister Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," stuttered Mister Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," explained Mister Elk warily. "I heard that this elephant likes to prod tubes of glue."

"Um, I don't know what to say," quoted Mister Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of elephants prodding tubes of glue?"

"I can't imagine," roared Mister Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" asked Mister Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Mister Dodo bird majestically, 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 Elk grandly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Mister Dodo bird hysterically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and blinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," offered Mister Elk sharply. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied immediately.