Mister Rooster And The New Neighbor

Mister Rooster lived on a battlefield in a house made of copper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yowled Mister Rooster brashly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of water?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the manticore that's come to the battlefield.

"I really don't know," griped Mister Rooster. "I didn't know about any manticore. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chimed Mister Sloth suavely. "I heard that this manticore likes to extend boomerangs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the battlefield when we get a lot of manticores extending boomerangs?"

"I can't imagine," urged Mister Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" invited Mister Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" chimed Mister Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," avowed Mister Rooster obediently, 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 Sloth fearlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Mister Rooster thoughtfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on his front porch, looking out over the battlefield and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," maintained Mister Sloth warily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sagely.