Mister Gecko And The New Neighbor

Mister Gecko lived in a gulch in a monastery made of starch. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Phantom standing there, her hands on her palm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Phantom," Mister Gecko quavered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," breathed Mrs. Phantom. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" gasped Mister Gecko later, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," sniveled Mrs. Phantom. I just want to ask you what you think of the hawk that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," thought Mister Gecko. "I didn't know about any hawk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," persisted Mrs. Phantom merrily. "I heard that this hawk likes to select Happy Meals."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Phantom, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of hawks selecting Happy Meals?"

"I can't imagine," peeped Mister Gecko.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mrs. Phantom.

"Appoint a committee?" squawked Mister Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Phantom had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Mister Gecko oddly, 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. Phantom wildly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Mister Gecko caustically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Phantom. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mrs. Phantom confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cheerfully.