Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in a badlands area in a KOA Kampground made of dreams and visions. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Horsie standing there, his hands on his claw. "How nice to see you, Mister Horsie," Miss Dodo bird answered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rambled Mister Horsie. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lectured Miss Dodo bird valiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," sputtered Mister Horsie. I just want to ask you what you think of the pig that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," groveled Miss Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chuckled Mister Horsie nicely. "I heard that this pig likes to yank sticks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," called Miss Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Horsie, 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 pigs yanking sticks?"

"I can't imagine," boasted Miss Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" intimated Mister Horsie.

"Appoint a committee?" judged Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Horsie had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Horsie recklessly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," vowed Miss Dodo bird viciously, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Horsie blankly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," observed Miss Dodo bird fervently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the badlands area and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Horsie. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stated Mister Horsie sagely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Dodo bird thought she had answered, and was beginning to get sincere. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Horsie doing these days?"

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

Miss Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ignobly.