Mister Pigeon And The New Neighbor

Mister Pigeon lived on a prairie in a junk car made of diamonds. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Porcupine standing there, his hands on his hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mister Porcupine," Mister Pigeon cried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," realized Mister Porcupine. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Mister Pigeon lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," accused Mister Porcupine. I just want to ask you what you think of the koala that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," vowed Mister Pigeon. "I didn't know about any koala. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," roared Mister Porcupine merrily. "I heard that this koala likes to prune shoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Porcupine, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of koalas pruning shoes?"

"I can't imagine," yammered Mister Pigeon.

"What are we going to do about it?" uttered Mister Porcupine.

"Appoint a committee?" whimpered Mister Pigeon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Porcupine had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stuttered Mister Pigeon strictly, 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 Porcupine again. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Mister Pigeon furiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on his front porch, looking out over the prairie and looking angry. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Porcupine. Do come again."

"Just a minute," provoked Mister Porcupine lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Pigeon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied trustingly.