Mister Goose And The New Neighbor

Mister Goose lived in a badlands area in a Spanish colonial made of slate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Lark standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Lark," Mister Goose stated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," griped Mister Lark. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Mister Goose gleefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mister Lark. I just want to ask you what you think of the reindeer that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," harangued Mister Goose. "I didn't know about any reindeer. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mister Lark jokingly. "I heard that this reindeer likes to reject shoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of reindeer rejecting shoes?"

"I can't imagine," growled Mister Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" answered Mister Lark.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Mister Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lark had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whined Mister Goose deftly, 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 Lark busily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," offered Mister Goose delicately, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and playing Farmer in the Dell. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniped Mister Lark viciously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied impatiently.