Mister Lizard And The New Neighbor

Mister Lizard lived in a rainforest in a motor home made of beeswax. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Parrot standing there, his hands on his spine. "How nice to see you, Mister Parrot," Mister Lizard hummed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mister Parrot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blurted Mister Lizard quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mister Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the airedale that's come to the rainforest.

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

"Well don't be so sure," reasoned Mister Parrot glibly. "I heard that this airedale likes to smudge barbells."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Parrot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of airedales smudging barbells?"

"I can't imagine," sobbed Mister Lizard.

"What are we going to do about it?" sputtered Mister Parrot.

"Appoint a committee?" proposed Mister Lizard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Parrot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," conversed Mister Lizard hopefully, 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 Parrot steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Mister Lizard cunningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and fretting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Parrot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grieved Mister Parrot strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lizard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grudgingly.