Mister Gecko And The New Neighbor

Mister Gecko lived in a bog in a closet made of sweat and toil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Tsetse fly standing there, her hands on her elbow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Tsetse fly," Mister Gecko called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yammered Mrs. Tsetse fly. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" noted Mister Gecko innocently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," screamed Mrs. Tsetse fly. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," enunciated Mister Gecko. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," avowed Mrs. Tsetse fly cleverly. "I heard that this elephant likes to develop tickets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Tsetse fly, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of elephants developing tickets?"

"I can't imagine," complained Mister Gecko.

"What are we going to do about it?" intoned Mrs. Tsetse fly.

"Appoint a committee?" fantasized Mister Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Tsetse fly had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Tsetse fly narrowly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," asserted Mister Gecko cleverly, 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. Tsetse fly excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Mister Gecko suspiciously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on his front porch, looking out over the bog and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Tsetse fly. Do come again."

"Just a minute," protested Mrs. Tsetse fly resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fervently.