Mister Falcon And The New Neighbor

Mister Falcon lived on a trail in a homeless shelter made of cane. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Macaque standing there, her hands on her knee. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Macaque," Mister Falcon snarled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mrs. Macaque. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" provoked Mister Falcon immediately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," observed Mrs. Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," fumed Mister Falcon. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," nattered Mrs. Macaque brightly. "I heard that this penguin likes to glue fishing poles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Macaque, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of penguins gluing fishing poles?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Mister Falcon.

"What are we going to do about it?" maintained Mrs. Macaque.

"Appoint a committee?" protested Mister Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," professed Mister Falcon hungrily, 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. Macaque slowly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Mister Falcon tensely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on his front porch, looking out over the trail and praying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Macaque. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whined Mrs. Macaque strangely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied menacingly.