Miss Yak And The New Neighbor

Miss Yak lived in a jungle in a flat made of polystyrene. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prime rib, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Elk standing there, his hands on his thorax. "How nice to see you, Mister Elk," Miss Yak called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mister Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" scoffed Miss Yak suspiciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," pointed out Mister Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the robot that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," added Miss Yak. "I didn't know about any robot. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yawned Mister Elk diligently. "I heard that this robot likes to honor whoopee cushions."

"Um, I don't know what to say," pointed out Miss Yak, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of robots honoring whoopee cushions?"

"I can't imagine," pointed out Miss Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" continued Mister Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" spat Miss Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Miss Yak fervently, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Elk thankfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bawled Miss Yak timidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the jungle and mumbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mister Elk admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Yak thought she had answered, and was beginning to get sociable. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Elk doing these days?"

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

Miss Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied numbly.