Mister Cockatiel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cockatiel lived on a moonscape in a chalet made of stainless steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hash, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ostrich standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ostrich," Mister Cockatiel squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," expressed Mrs. Ostrich. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," barked Mrs. Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," added Mister Cockatiel. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," drawled Mrs. Ostrich elatedly. "I heard that this giraffe likes to modify bags of potato chips."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ostrich, 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 giraffes modifying bags of potato chips?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mrs. Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Mister Cockatiel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squawked Mister Cockatiel grimly, 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. Ostrich shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Mister Cockatiel nonchalantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," accused Mrs. Ostrich valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Ostrich 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 diligently.