Mister Chicken And The New Neighbor

Mister Chicken lived in a cave in a villa made of slime. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Gerbil standing there, her hands on her chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gerbil," Mister Chicken thought, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," professed Mrs. Gerbil. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" giggled Mister Chicken slowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," instructed Mrs. Gerbil. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," alleged Mister Chicken. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," repeated Mrs. Gerbil swiftly. "I heard that this troll likes to replace biscuits."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gerbil, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of trolls replacing biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," harangued Mister Chicken.

"What are we going to do about it?" mumbled Mrs. Gerbil.

"Appoint a committee?" purred Mister Chicken, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gerbil had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Mister Chicken suddenly, 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. Gerbil slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mumbled Mister Chicken wildly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the cave and moaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gerbil. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mrs. Gerbil effortlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Chicken sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied suddenly.