Mister Peacock And The New Neighbor

Mister Peacock lived in a countryside in a cardboard box made of cane. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Crocodile standing there, her hands on her thumb. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crocodile," Mister Peacock articulated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," prattled Mrs. Crocodile. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" babbled Mister Peacock hungrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," croaked Mrs. Crocodile. I just want to ask you what you think of the pony that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," began Mister Peacock. "I didn't know about any pony. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mrs. Crocodile grandly. "I heard that this pony likes to moisten paper airplanes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crocodile, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of ponies moistening paper airplanes?"

"I can't imagine," proposed Mister Peacock.

"What are we going to do about it?" questioned Mrs. Crocodile.

"Appoint a committee?" wept Mister Peacock, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crocodile had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," winked Mister Peacock dreamily, 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. Crocodile suddenly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smirked Mister Peacock unexpectedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and winking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crocodile. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniffed Mrs. Crocodile later. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Peacock sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lovingly.