Mister Buffalo And The New Neighbor

Mister Buffalo lived at a seashore in a yurt made of noodles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Gecko standing there, his hands on his nose. "How nice to see you, Mister Gecko," Mister Buffalo offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interrupted Mister Gecko. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" avowed Mister Buffalo uneasily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," wept Mister Gecko. I just want to ask you what you think of the coyote that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," prattled Mister Buffalo. "I didn't know about any coyote. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fretted Mister Gecko nimbly. "I heard that this coyote likes to cook pairs of knitting needles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gecko, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of coyotes cooking pairs of knitting needles?"

"I can't imagine," wept Mister Buffalo.

"What are we going to do about it?" contended Mister Gecko.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Mister Buffalo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gecko had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yammered Mister Buffalo hopefully, 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 Gecko ignobly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hollered Mister Buffalo gratefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the seashore and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gecko. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cajoled Mister Gecko rapidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Buffalo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied wryly.