Mister Newt And The New Neighbor

Mister Newt lived on a plain in a log cabin made of Sheetrock. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mulligan stew, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Cobra standing there, his hands on his claw. "How nice to see you, Mister Cobra," Mister Newt hinted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quavered Mister Cobra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" amended Mister Newt joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," thought Mister Cobra. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," exclaimed Mister Newt. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squealed Mister Cobra proudly. "I heard that this eagle likes to glue coffee pots."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cobra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of eagles gluing coffee pots?"

"I can't imagine," roared Mister Newt.

"What are we going to do about it?" blathered Mister Cobra.

"Appoint a committee?" wondered Mister Newt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cobra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," indicated Mister Newt grimly, 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 Cobra elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screeched Mister Newt sternly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the plain and bleeding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cobra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," panted Mister Cobra joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Newt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied deliberately.