Mister Snipe And The New Neighbor

Mister Snipe lived in a desert in a tent made of tin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Android standing there, his hands on his neck. "How nice to see you, Mister Android," Mister Snipe opined, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mister Android. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelled Mister Snipe deliberately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," hissed Mister Android. I just want to ask you what you think of the finch that's come to the desert.

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

"Well don't be so sure," enunciated Mister Android wryly. "I heard that this finch likes to tweak mousetraps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Android, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of finches tweaking mousetraps?"

"I can't imagine," uttered Mister Snipe.

"What are we going to do about it?" squealed Mister Android.

"Appoint a committee?" began Mister Snipe, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Android had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," screamed Mister Snipe energetically, 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 Android recklessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hinted Mister Snipe cautiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the desert and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Android. Do come again."

"Just a minute," worried Mister Android admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Snipe sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied speedily.