Mister Dragon And The New Neighbor

Mister Dragon lived in a circus tent in a crypt made of precious gems. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Owl standing there, his hands on his skull. "How nice to see you, Mister Owl," Mister Dragon orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mister Owl. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" instructed Mister Dragon reluctantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Owl. I just want to ask you what you think of the monkey that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," protested Mister Dragon. "I didn't know about any monkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," agreed Mister Owl anxiously. "I heard that this monkey likes to hit cookies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Owl, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of monkeys hitting cookies?"

"I can't imagine," yelled Mister Dragon.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mister Owl.

"Appoint a committee?" yawned Mister Dragon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Owl had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," proposed Mister Dragon sleepily, 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 Owl kindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," invited Mister Dragon tensely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and taking a bath. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Owl. Do come again."

"Just a minute," begged Mister Owl lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dragon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied solemnly.