Mister Owl And The New Neighbor

Mister Owl lived on a grassy knoll in a park bench made of plastic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Penguin standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Penguin," Mister Owl intoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mister Penguin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" noted Mister Owl boisterously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mister Penguin. I just want to ask you what you think of the badger that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," scoffed Mister Owl. "I didn't know about any badger. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blubbered Mister Penguin warily. "I heard that this badger likes to slash pigeons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Penguin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of badgers slashing pigeons?"

"I can't imagine," warbled Mister Owl.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniveled Mister Penguin.

"Appoint a committee?" railed Mister Owl, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Penguin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," admitted Mister Owl admiringly, 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 Penguin tensely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Mister Owl uneasily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on his front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and taking a bath. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Penguin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," indicated Mister Penguin fiercely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Owl sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied defiantly.