Mister Cockatiel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cockatiel lived in a dumpster in an A-frame made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, 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 Ferret standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Ferret," Mister Cockatiel analyzed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," comforted Mister Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelped Mister Cockatiel wryly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," babbled Mister Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the zebra that's come to the dumpster.

"I really don't know," pleaded Mister Cockatiel. "I didn't know about any zebra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," snorted Mister Ferret curiously. "I heard that this zebra likes to score iPods."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ferret, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dumpster when we get a lot of zebras scoring iPods?"

"I can't imagine," groaned Mister Cockatiel.

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mister Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" whined Mister Cockatiel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ferret had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Mister Cockatiel dreamily, 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 Ferret impatiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Mister Cockatiel crossly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the dumpster and clattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squeaked Mister Ferret testily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cockatiel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied truculently.