Mister Gecko And The New Neighbor

Mister Gecko lived on a mountaintop in a Spanish colonial made of tiles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Troll standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Troll," Mister Gecko giggled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mister Troll. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" worried Mister Gecko valiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of water?"

"I can't stay," shuddered Mister Troll. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the mountaintop.

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

"Well don't be so sure," called Mister Troll ferociously. "I heard that this horsie likes to decontaminate coat hangers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Troll, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of horsies decontaminating coat hangers?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Mister Gecko.

"What are we going to do about it?" babbled Mister Troll.

"Appoint a committee?" cackled Mister Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Troll had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Mister Gecko gingerly, 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 Troll testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Mister Gecko deliberately, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and burbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Troll. Do come again."

"Just a minute," babbled Mister Troll humbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bitterly.