Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived in a badlands area in a mud hut made of aluminum foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ghost standing there, her hands on her hairdo. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ghost," Mister Yak decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cajoled Mrs. Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" joked Mister Yak greedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," begged Mrs. Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the sloth that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," added Mister Yak. "I didn't know about any sloth. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mrs. Ghost unabashedly. "I heard that this sloth likes to deliver calculators."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of sloths delivering calculators?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Mister Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" groveled Mrs. Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" continued Mister Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," reminded Mister Yak anxiously, 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. Ghost anxiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," imitated Mister Yak hopelessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wine rack on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and shriveling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," requested Mrs. Ghost sharply. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied proudly.