Mister Parakeet And The New Neighbor

Mister Parakeet lived on a mountaintop in a chalet made of Formica. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Crow standing there, his hands on his thorax. "How nice to see you, Mister Crow," Mister Parakeet drawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," offered Mister Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hinted Mister Parakeet courteously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," urged Mister Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the pigeon that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," concluded Mister Parakeet. "I didn't know about any pigeon. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," insisted Mister Crow gingerly. "I heard that this pigeon likes to wash duffel bags."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Crow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of pigeons washing duffel bags?"

"I can't imagine," winked Mister Parakeet.

"What are we going to do about it?" rambled Mister Crow.

"Appoint a committee?" cajoled Mister Parakeet, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Crow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mouthed Mister Parakeet boisterously, 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 Crow clumsily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," suggested Mister Parakeet sorrowfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and dressing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," expressed Mister Crow cheerfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Parakeet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied narrowly.