Mister Robot And The New Neighbor

Mister Robot lived in a gully in a chateau made of pine logs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Donkey standing there, his hands on his jaw. "How nice to see you, Mister Donkey," Mister Robot chimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," drawled Mister Donkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" expressed Mister Robot joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," sniped Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the salamander that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," yammered Mister Robot. "I didn't know about any salamander. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mister Donkey grudgingly. "I heard that this salamander likes to protect cowbells."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of salamanders protecting cowbells?"

"I can't imagine," peeped Mister Robot.

"What are we going to do about it?" answered Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Mister Robot, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," gasped Mister Robot dolefully, 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 Donkey doubtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intimated Mister Robot sleepily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on his front porch, looking out over the gully and squinting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," brought up Mister Donkey slowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Robot sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied rapidly.