Mister Cockatiel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cockatiel lived on a mountain in a tent made of pipe cleaners. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Worm standing there, his hands on his foot. "How nice to see you, Mister Worm," Mister Cockatiel fumed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," conversed Mister Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Mister Cockatiel blankly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," protested Mister Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the airedale that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," chanted Mister Cockatiel. "I didn't know about any airedale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rationalized Mister Worm nonchalantly. "I heard that this airedale likes to trim tissues."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of airedales trimming tissues?"

"I can't imagine," remarked Mister Cockatiel.

"What are we going to do about it?" hinted Mister Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" gasped Mister Cockatiel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chanted Mister Cockatiel unabashedly, 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 Worm suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Mister Cockatiel lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the mountain and adjusting the clock. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mister Worm courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cockatiel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unabashedly.