Mister Falcon And The New Neighbor

Mister Falcon lived beside a creek in a cabin made of cold rolled steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Alligator standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Alligator," Mister Falcon blustered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," maintained Mister Alligator. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Mister Falcon impatiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mister Alligator. I just want to ask you what you think of the jackal that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," barked Mister Falcon. "I didn't know about any jackal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mouthed Mister Alligator bravely. "I heard that this jackal likes to dress pieces of candy."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Alligator, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of jackals dressing pieces of candy?"

"I can't imagine," babbled Mister Falcon.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Alligator.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Mister Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Alligator had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hummed Mister Falcon briskly, 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 Alligator excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Mister Falcon gratefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on his front porch, looking out over the creek and glowering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Alligator. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fantasized Mister Alligator lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sheepishly.