Mister Duck And The New Neighbor

Mister Duck lived in a lagoon in an office made of rock. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Tarantula standing there, her hands on her big toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Tarantula," Mister Duck reacted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mrs. Tarantula. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" laughed Mister Duck ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mrs. Tarantula. I just want to ask you what you think of the ape that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," observed Mister Duck. "I didn't know about any ape. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squeaked Mrs. Tarantula cautiously. "I heard that this ape likes to break bagpipes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Tarantula, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of apes breaking bagpipes?"

"I can't imagine," cajoled Mister Duck.

"What are we going to do about it?" imitated Mrs. Tarantula.

"Appoint a committee?" invited Mister Duck, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Tarantula had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniveled Mister Duck majestically, 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. Tarantula hopefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Mister Duck cunningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on his front porch, looking out over the lagoon and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Tarantula. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mouthed Mrs. Tarantula courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Duck sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brashly.