Miss Gnu And The New Neighbor

Miss Gnu lived at a dump in a chapel made of stardust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Turkey standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Turkey," Miss Gnu sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groaned Mister Turkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pleaded Miss Gnu strictly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," hummed Mister Turkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the pelican that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," wondered Miss Gnu. "I didn't know about any pelican. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mister Turkey neatly. "I heard that this pelican likes to wash Happy Meals."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Miss Gnu, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Turkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of pelicans washing Happy Meals?"

"I can't imagine," harangued Miss Gnu.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mister Turkey.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Miss Gnu, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Turkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Miss Gnu courteously, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Turkey briskly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Gnu accidentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the dump and pausing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Turkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cried Mister Turkey confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Gnu thought she had answered, and was beginning to get considerate. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Turkey doing these days?"

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

Miss Gnu sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied needlessly.