Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived at a seashore in a trough made of recycled newspaper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blubbered Mister Yak roughly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," spoke up Mrs. Cockatiel. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the seashore.

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

"Well don't be so sure," pleaded Mrs. Cockatiel cleverly. "I heard that this bear likes to close curling irons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockatiel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of bears closing curling irons?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" recited Mrs. Cockatiel.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Mister Yak quietly, 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. Cockatiel gently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," howled Mister Yak flightily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockatiel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," acknowledged Mrs. Cockatiel accidentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Cockatiel 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 madly.