Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in a dumpster in a flat made of cinder block. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Turtle standing there, his hands on his eye. "How nice to see you, Mister Turtle," Miss Dodo bird screamed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," grieved Mister Turtle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" avowed Miss Dodo bird fiercely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mister Turtle. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the dumpster.

"I really don't know," begged Miss Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groaned Mister Turtle neatly. "I heard that this camel likes to swipe cans of soup."

"Um, I don't know what to say," howled Miss Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Turtle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dumpster when we get a lot of camels swiping cans of soup?"

"I can't imagine," winked Miss Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mister Turtle.

"Appoint a committee?" articulated Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Turtle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spouted Miss Dodo bird brashly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Turtle stupidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Miss Dodo bird strangely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on her front porch, looking out over the dumpster and getting frazzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Turtle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mister Turtle glibly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Dodo bird thought she had answered, and was beginning to get corpulent. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Turtle doing these days?"

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

Miss Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied craftily.