Mister Donkey And The New Neighbor

Mister Donkey lived on a range in a homeless shelter made of stucco. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Boa constrictor standing there, her hands on her Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Boa constrictor," Mister Donkey reacted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," orated Mrs. Boa constrictor. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yowled Mister Donkey temperamentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Cuba libre?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mrs. Boa constrictor. I just want to ask you what you think of the gorilla that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," rumored Mister Donkey. "I didn't know about any gorilla. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mrs. Boa constrictor impatiently. "I heard that this gorilla likes to hack towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Boa constrictor, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of gorillas hacking towels?"

"I can't imagine," warbled Mister Donkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" hinted Mrs. Boa constrictor.

"Appoint a committee?" interrupted Mister Donkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Boa constrictor had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Boa constrictor urgently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," muttered Mister Donkey swiftly, 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. Boa constrictor sleepily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snarled Mister Donkey demurely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on his front porch, looking out over the range and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Boa constrictor. Do come again."

"Just a minute," realized Mrs. Boa constrictor frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Donkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fearfully.