Mister Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cocker spaniel lived alongside a stream in a cabin made of rubble. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Chicken standing there, his hands on his leg. "How nice to see you, Mister Chicken," Mister Cocker spaniel orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," lectured Mister Chicken. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" expressed Mister Cocker spaniel frantically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Seven and Seven?"

"I can't stay," decided Mister Chicken. I just want to ask you what you think of the seal that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," admitted Mister Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any seal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mister Chicken cunningly. "I heard that this seal likes to silence acorns."

"Um, I don't know what to say," continued Mister Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Chicken, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of seals silencing acorns?"

"I can't imagine," concluded Mister Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mister Chicken.

"Appoint a committee?" snorted Mister Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Chicken had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Mister Cocker spaniel crazily, 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 Chicken shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Mister Cocker spaniel lamely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on his front porch, looking out over the stream and vegetating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chicken. Do come again."

"Just a minute," argued Mister Chicken fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cocker spaniel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warily.