Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived on a beach in a studio made of rubber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Hyena standing there, her hands on her forehead. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hyena," Mister Yak squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shouted Mrs. Hyena. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" tittered Mister Yak lightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," decided Mrs. Hyena. I just want to ask you what you think of the elk that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," requested Mister Yak. "I didn't know about any elk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," ranted Mrs. Hyena blankly. "I heard that this elk likes to propel flowerpots."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hyena, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of elk propelling flowerpots?"

"I can't imagine," appealed Mister Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" added Mrs. Hyena.

"Appoint a committee?" stuttered Mister Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hyena had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whined Mister Yak uselessly, 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. Hyena lazily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intoned Mister Yak sadly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the beach and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hyena. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blubbered Mrs. Hyena calmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warily.