Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in an arroyo in a duplex made of stucco. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sweet potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Donkey standing there, his hands on his piehole. "How nice to see you, Mister Donkey," Miss Dodo bird called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stated Mister Donkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Miss Dodo bird stupidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a margarita?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the meerkat that's come to the arroyo.

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

"Well don't be so sure," stammered Mister Donkey ferociously. "I heard that this meerkat likes to drag baskets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," shrieked Miss Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of meerkats dragging baskets?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," demanded Miss Dodo bird haughtily, 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 Mister Donkey haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Dodo bird vigorously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and coming back. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," divulged Mister Donkey sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Dodo bird thought she had answered, and was beginning to get contented. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Donkey doing these days?"

Mister Donkey 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 suspiciously.