Mister Cobra And The New Neighbor

Mister Cobra lived in a field in a Cape Cod made of seashells. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Donkey standing there, his hands on his chin. "How nice to see you, Mister Donkey," Mister Cobra articulated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Donkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Mister Cobra automatically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the eel that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," uttered Mister Cobra. "I didn't know about any eel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mister Donkey crazily. "I heard that this eel likes to honor etchings."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of eels honoring etchings?"

"I can't imagine," debated Mister Cobra.

"What are we going to do about it?" sighed Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" said Mister Cobra, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," explained Mister Cobra numbly, 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 Donkey positively. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stuttered Mister Cobra tenderly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the field and talking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cajoled Mister Donkey needlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cobra sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carefully.