Mister Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Bird lived on a range in a farmhouse made of old bones. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Grizzly bear standing there, her hands on her paw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Grizzly bear," Mister Bird demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groveled Mrs. Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" alleged Mister Bird unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mrs. Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the nightingale that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," piped up Mister Bird. "I didn't know about any nightingale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mrs. Grizzly bear timidly. "I heard that this nightingale likes to wax cloaks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Grizzly bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of nightingales waxing cloaks?"

"I can't imagine," giggled Mister Bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mrs. Grizzly bear.

"Appoint a committee?" breathed Mister Bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Grizzly bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Grizzly bear resignedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," lectured Mister Bird 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. Grizzly bear immediately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," implored Mister Bird jokingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the range and backing down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Grizzly bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mrs. Grizzly bear dreamily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied vacantly.