Mister Donkey And The New Neighbor

Mister Donkey lived in a pond in a sand castle made of glass brick. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Robot standing there, his hands on his buttocks. "How nice to see you, Mister Robot," Mister Donkey enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," snorted Mister Robot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declaimed Mister Donkey quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," decided Mister Robot. I just want to ask you what you think of the yak that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," informed Mister Donkey. "I didn't know about any yak. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Robot excitedly. "I heard that this yak likes to scratch clarinets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Robot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of yaks scratching clarinets?"

"I can't imagine," cajoled Mister Donkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" debated Mister Robot.

"Appoint a committee?" preached Mister Donkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Robot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boasted Mister Donkey carefully, 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 Robot stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Mister Donkey timidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the pond and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Robot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chortled Mister Robot curiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Donkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied crankily.