Mister Rooster And The New Neighbor

Mister Rooster lived in a badlands area in a flat made of cardboard. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Teddy bear standing there, his hands on his Adam's apple. "How nice to see you, Mister Teddy bear," Mister Rooster queried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," murmured Mister Teddy bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Mister Rooster calmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a kamikaze?"

"I can't stay," cried Mister Teddy bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the chipmunk that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," cried Mister Rooster. "I didn't know about any chipmunk. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," peeped Mister Teddy bear menacingly. "I heard that this chipmunk likes to recommend jars of olives."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Teddy bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of chipmunks recommending jars of olives?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" blubbered Mister Teddy bear.

"Appoint a committee?" blustered Mister Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Teddy bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Teddy bear vigorously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Mister Rooster courageously, 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 Teddy bear later. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," taunted Mister Rooster diligently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and coughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Teddy bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mister Teddy bear pityingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Teddy bear 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 fearlessly.