Mister Burro And The New Neighbor

Mister Burro lived in a desert in a church made of chocolate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Whale standing there, her hands on her thorax. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Mister Burro sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," continued Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Mister Burro valiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," hummed Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," uttered Mister Burro. "I didn't know about any bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," commented Mrs. Whale bravely. "I heard that this bear likes to identify twigs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of bears identifying twigs?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mrs. Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Mister Burro, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wept Mister Burro languidly, 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. Whale viciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," thought Mister Burro wildly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the desert and apologizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," railed Mrs. Whale wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied energetically.