Mister Falcon And The New Neighbor

Mister Falcon lived beside a creek in a motor home made of uranium. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Giraffe standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Giraffe," Mister Falcon croaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boasted Mister Giraffe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Mister Falcon again, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," ranted Mister Giraffe. I just want to ask you what you think of the mule that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," whined Mister Falcon. "I didn't know about any mule. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reasoned Mister Giraffe stupidly. "I heard that this mule likes to cover fire hoses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Giraffe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of mules covering fire hoses?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mister Giraffe.

"Appoint a committee?" breathed Mister Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Giraffe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," analyzed Mister Falcon carefully, 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 Giraffe flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," instructed Mister Falcon gratefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the creek and vegetating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Giraffe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," thought Mister Giraffe grimly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Giraffe 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 excitedly.