Mister Bison And The New Neighbor

Mister Bison lived on a hillside in a sod house made of burlap. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ghost standing there, his hands on his heart. "How nice to see you, Mister Ghost," Mister Bison mused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," prattled Mister Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Mister Bison pitifully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mister Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the finch that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," alleged Mister Bison. "I didn't know about any finch. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," suggested Mister Ghost languidly. "I heard that this finch likes to recognize saddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of finches recognizing saddles?"

"I can't imagine," sniveled Mister Bison.

"What are we going to do about it?" boomed Mister Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" fumed Mister Bison, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rumored Mister Bison thankfully, 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 Ghost happily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declared Mister Bison languidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on his front porch, looking out over the hillside and meditating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screeched Mister Ghost suavely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bison sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied curiously.