Mister Tsetse Fly And The New Neighbor

Mister Tsetse fly lived on a mesa in a chapel made of leaves and twigs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Unicorn standing there, his hands on his pride. "How nice to see you, Mister Unicorn," Mister Tsetse fly enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chuckled Mister Unicorn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" retorted Mister Tsetse fly sarcastically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," squealed Mister Unicorn. I just want to ask you what you think of the snipe that's come to the mesa.

"I really don't know," voiced Mister Tsetse fly. "I didn't know about any snipe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," explained Mister Unicorn majestically. "I heard that this snipe likes to brush coat hangers."

"Um, I don't know what to say," guessed Mister Tsetse fly, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Unicorn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mesa when we get a lot of snipes brushing coat hangers?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Mister Tsetse fly.

"What are we going to do about it?" comforted Mister Unicorn.

"Appoint a committee?" said Mister Tsetse fly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Unicorn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Mister Tsetse fly positively, 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 Unicorn confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," ranted Mister Tsetse fly shakily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the mesa and blowing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Unicorn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smirked Mister Unicorn blissfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Tsetse fly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied ruefully.