Mister Rooster And The New Neighbor

Mister Rooster lived in a desert in a church made of plaster of Paris. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

He slunk 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 antenna. "How nice to see you, Mister Crow," Mister Rooster fumed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," worried Mister Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Mister Rooster demurely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," exploded Mister Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the prairie dog that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Rooster. "I didn't know about any prairie dog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chimed Mister Crow boisterously. "I heard that this prairie dog likes to distort diaries."

"Um, I don't know what to say," responded Mister Rooster, 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 desert when we get a lot of prairie dogs distorting diaries?"

"I can't imagine," chuckled Mister Rooster.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," crooned Mister Rooster shyly, 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 pitifully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," jeered Mister Rooster fearfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the desert and flailing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crow. Do come again."

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

Mister Rooster thought he had answered, and was beginning to get impish. "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 Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied briskly.