Mister Ox And The New Neighbor

Mister Ox lived on a cliff in a church made of onyx. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Coyote standing there, his hands on his gall bladder. "How nice to see you, Mister Coyote," Mister Ox snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," roared Mister Coyote. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" snarled Mister Ox busily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Irish Coffee?"

"I can't stay," spewed Mister Coyote. I just want to ask you what you think of the worm that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," conversed Mister Ox. "I didn't know about any worm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mister Coyote trustingly. "I heard that this worm likes to pick guns."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Coyote, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of worms picking guns?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" added Mister Coyote.

"Appoint a committee?" stated Mister Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Coyote had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rationalized Mister Ox calmly, 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 Coyote blissfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Mister Ox impatiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the cliff and dawdling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Coyote. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bellowed Mister Coyote numbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied testily.