Mister Owl And The New Neighbor

Mister Owl lived in an outback in a KOA Kampground made of walnut. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ferret standing there, her hands on her carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ferret," Mister Owl scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," commented Mrs. Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelled Mister Owl daintily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," declared Mrs. Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the bunny that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," interrupted Mister Owl. "I didn't know about any bunny. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mrs. Ferret vigorously. "I heard that this bunny likes to spin cans of beans."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ferret, 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 bunnies spinning cans of beans?"

"I can't imagine," peeped Mister Owl.

"What are we going to do about it?" moaned Mrs. Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" stammered Mister Owl, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ferret had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rationalized Mister Owl ruefully, 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. Ferret grandly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Mister Owl nonchalantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bed on his front porch, looking out over the outback and relaxing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," brought up Mrs. Ferret thoughtfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Owl sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied openly.