Mister Goose And The New Neighbor

Mister Goose lived on a hill in an apartment made of old tires. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when he heard a knock at the door.

He danced 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 rib. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eagle," Mister Goose yammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," giggled Mrs. Eagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" howled Mister Goose joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mrs. Eagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolverine that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," implored Mister Goose. "I didn't know about any wolverine. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screeched Mrs. Eagle wearily. "I heard that this wolverine likes to rattle pieces of paper."

"Um, I don't know what to say," fumed Mister Goose, 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 hill when we get a lot of wolverines rattling pieces of paper?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Mister Goose.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Mister Goose crazily, 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 unabashedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," harangued Mister Goose menacingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the hill and bleeding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eagle. Do come again."

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

Mister Goose thought he had answered, and was beginning to get witty. "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 Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gruffly.