Mister Tsetse Fly And The New Neighbor

Mister Tsetse fly lived in a garden in a junk car made of chicken wire. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ox standing there, his hands on his abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mister Ox," Mister Tsetse fly exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mister Ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sighed Mister Tsetse fly strictly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mister Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the anaconda that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," voiced Mister Tsetse fly. "I didn't know about any anaconda. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mister Ox fearlessly. "I heard that this anaconda likes to manage pieces of paper."

"Um, I don't know what to say," accused Mister Tsetse fly, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of anacondas managing pieces of paper?"

"I can't imagine," yelled Mister Tsetse fly.

"What are we going to do about it?" alleged Mister Ox.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Mister Tsetse fly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cajoled Mister Tsetse fly frenetically, 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 Ox slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," joked Mister Tsetse fly wildly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the garden and catching up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," exploded Mister Ox zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Tsetse fly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lovingly.