Mister Deer And The New Neighbor

Mister Deer lived in a neighborhood in a manor house made of hay. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Elephant standing there, her hands on her heel. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elephant," Mister Deer squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," drawled Mrs. Elephant. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quoted Mister Deer wryly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mrs. Elephant. I just want to ask you what you think of the turkey that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," peeped Mister Deer. "I didn't know about any turkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," responded Mrs. Elephant grudgingly. "I heard that this turkey likes to abuse rocks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elephant, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of turkeys abusing rocks?"

"I can't imagine," murmured Mister Deer.

"What are we going to do about it?" rambled Mrs. Elephant.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Mister Deer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elephant had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whispered Mister Deer haughtily, 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. Elephant lickety-split. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squeaked Mister Deer happily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on his front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elephant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rumored Mrs. Elephant vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Deer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sadly.