Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived on a beach in a wikiup made of recycled newspaper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Yak standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Yak," Mister German Shepherd repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," prattled Mrs. Yak. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" railed Mister German Shepherd sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," ranted Mrs. Yak. I just want to ask you what you think of the nightingale that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," chattered Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any nightingale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," enunciated Mrs. Yak sleepily. "I heard that this nightingale likes to replace baseball bats."

"Um, I don't know what to say," grieved Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Yak, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of nightingales replacing baseball bats?"

"I can't imagine," called Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mrs. Yak.

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Yak had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Yak valiantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Mister German Shepherd dubiously, 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 Mrs. Yak innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Mister German Shepherd kindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on his front porch, looking out over the beach and begging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Yak. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mrs. Yak doubtfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied tearfully.