Mister Turtle And The New Neighbor

Mister Turtle lived on a hill in a motor home made of slate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cockatiel standing there, her hands on her chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cockatiel," Mister Turtle debated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," suggested Mrs. Cockatiel. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," screeched Mrs. Cockatiel. I just want to ask you what you think of the cocker spaniel that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," complained Mister Turtle. "I didn't know about any cocker spaniel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," panted Mrs. Cockatiel courageously. "I heard that this cocker spaniel likes to soak toys."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockatiel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of cocker spaniels soaking toys?"

"I can't imagine," divulged Mister Turtle.

"What are we going to do about it?" requested Mrs. Cockatiel.

"Appoint a committee?" divulged Mister Turtle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cockatiel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," urged Mister Turtle lickety-split, 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. Cockatiel cheerfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," babbled Mister Turtle gleefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on his front porch, looking out over the hill and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockatiel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mrs. Cockatiel repeatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Turtle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warily.