Mister Bull And The New Neighbor

Mister Bull lived in a field in a homeless shelter made of marble. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Peacock standing there, her hands on her little finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Peacock," Mister Bull argued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fretted Mrs. Peacock. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Mister Bull miserably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bloody Mary?"

"I can't stay," contended Mrs. Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the jellyfish that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," spewed Mister Bull. "I didn't know about any jellyfish. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chattered Mrs. Peacock sheepishly. "I heard that this jellyfish likes to grind firecrackers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of jellyfish grinding firecrackers?"

"I can't imagine," uttered Mister Bull.

"What are we going to do about it?" hummed Mrs. Peacock.

"Appoint a committee?" growled Mister Bull, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Peacock had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Mister Bull confidently, 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. Peacock sagely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," amended Mister Bull defiantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on his front porch, looking out over the field and swearing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Peacock. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fretted Mrs. Peacock fondly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bull sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gracefully.