Mister Pelican And The New Neighbor

Mister Pelican lived in a valley in a monastery made of wood. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chocolate-covered ants, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Lamb standing there, his hands on his little finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Lamb," Mister Pelican declared, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," protested Mister Lamb. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" howled Mister Pelican demurely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey?"

"I can't stay," recited Mister Lamb. I just want to ask you what you think of the cow that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," bragged Mister Pelican. "I didn't know about any cow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," divulged Mister Lamb hastily. "I heard that this cow likes to unbutton thumb drives."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lamb, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of cows unbuttoning thumb drives?"

"I can't imagine," stated Mister Pelican.

"What are we going to do about it?" rambled Mister Lamb.

"Appoint a committee?" appealed Mister Pelican, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lamb had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Mister Pelican grimly, 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 Lamb impatiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Mister Pelican blankly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on his front porch, looking out over the valley and thinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lamb. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mister Lamb peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Pelican sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied intensely.