Mister Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Bird lived on a moonscape in a cabin made of chicken feathers. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mare standing there, her hands on her wrist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mare," Mister Bird blathered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mrs. Mare. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" explained Mister Bird majestically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," mumbled Mrs. Mare. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," inquired Mister Bird. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," railed Mrs. Mare grudgingly. "I heard that this horsie likes to slash bilge pumps."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mare, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of horsies slashing bilge pumps?"

"I can't imagine," stuttered Mister Bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" hollered Mrs. Mare.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Mister Bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mare had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," groaned Mister Bird nimbly, 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. Mare grudgingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Mister Bird tearfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and playing Duck Duck Goose. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mare. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mrs. Mare neatly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied boisterously.