Mister Canary And The New Neighbor

Mister Canary lived in a gulch in a ranch house made of fabric. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ice cream, 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 Mrs. Mule standing there, her hands on her head. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mule," Mister Canary accused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yawned Mrs. Mule. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Mister Canary peevishly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Mule. I just want to ask you what you think of the aardvark that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," growled Mister Canary. "I didn't know about any aardvark. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pleaded Mrs. Mule kindly. "I heard that this aardvark likes to trim bowls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mule, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of aardvarks trimming bowls?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Mister Canary.

"What are we going to do about it?" contended Mrs. Mule.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Mister Canary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mule had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," urged Mister Canary defiantly, 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. Mule grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," insisted Mister Canary sarcastically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and blowing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mule. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fretted Mrs. Mule uselessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Canary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied nimbly.