Mister Chicken And The New Neighbor

Mister Chicken lived in a cave in a trough made of ice. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Tsetse fly standing there, his hands on his back. "How nice to see you, Mister Tsetse fly," Mister Chicken announced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," answered Mister Tsetse fly. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sneered Mister Chicken briskly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," stammered Mister Tsetse fly. I just want to ask you what you think of the mustang that's come to the cave.

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

"Well don't be so sure," yelled Mister Tsetse fly vigorously. "I heard that this mustang likes to rattle Barbie dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Tsetse fly, 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 mustangs rattling Barbie dolls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" gasped Mister Tsetse fly.

"Appoint a committee?" sniveled Mister Chicken, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Tsetse fly had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Tsetse fly strictly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," blathered 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 Mister Tsetse fly narrowly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," orated Mister Chicken sagely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on his front porch, looking out over the cave and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Tsetse fly. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squeaked Mister Tsetse fly fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Tsetse fly 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 noisily.