Mister Duck And The New Neighbor

Mister Duck lived in a desert in a stinky shack made of slime. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Zebra standing there, his hands on his collarbone. "How nice to see you, Mister Zebra," Mister Duck preached, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screeched Mister Zebra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quoted Mister Duck rapidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mister Zebra. I just want to ask you what you think of the hamster that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," thought Mister Duck. "I didn't know about any hamster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," piped up Mister Zebra lovingly. "I heard that this hamster likes to smudge jars of olives."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Zebra, 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 hamsters smudging jars of olives?"

"I can't imagine," added Mister Duck.

"What are we going to do about it?" boomed Mister Zebra.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Mister Duck, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Zebra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," growled Mister Duck neatly, 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 Zebra positively. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yowled Mister Duck despondently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the desert and knitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Zebra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mister Zebra suspiciously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Duck sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied miserably.