Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in an outback in a chapel made of ashes. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Yak standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Yak," Miss Dodo bird exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," affirmed Mrs. Yak. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Miss Dodo bird breathlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," pronounced Mrs. Yak. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," cackled Miss Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mrs. Yak urgently. "I heard that this crow likes to seize teapots."

"Um, I don't know what to say," grunted Miss Dodo bird, 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 outback when we get a lot of crows seizing teapots?"

"I can't imagine," commented Miss Dodo bird.

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

"Appoint a committee?" cried Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Yak had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," affirmed Miss Dodo bird accidentally, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Yak slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," comforted Miss Dodo bird uneasily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the outback and snorting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Yak. Do come again."

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

Miss Dodo bird thought she had answered, and was beginning to get frightened. "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?"

Miss Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied resignedly.