Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived on a moonscape in a farmhouse made of chicken wire. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whimpered Mister Yak menacingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," explained Mister Dodo bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," joked Mister Yak. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shuddered Mister Dodo bird trustingly. "I heard that this donkey likes to inflate protest signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dodo bird, 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 donkeys inflating protest signs?"

"I can't imagine," inquired Mister Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" screeched Mister Dodo bird.

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

"That's exactly right," said Mister Dodo bird doubtfully. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yelled Mister Yak humbly, 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 Dodo bird firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Mister Yak bravely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and blushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dodo bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mister Dodo bird despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grudgingly.