Mister Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Mister Dodo bird lived in a desert in a dugout made of cold rolled steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Gila monster standing there, his hands on his larynx. "How nice to see you, Mister Gila monster," Mister Dodo bird asked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mister Gila monster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Mister Dodo bird gruffly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," screeched Mister Gila monster. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," uttered Mister Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any kitty. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screamed Mister Gila monster energetically. "I heard that this kitty likes to overlook cigarette lighters."

"Um, I don't know what to say," retorted Mister Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Gila monster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of kitties overlooking cigarette lighters?"

"I can't imagine," affirmed Mister Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" snarled Mister Gila monster.

"Appoint a committee?" instructed Mister Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gila monster had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Gila monster perkily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Mister Dodo bird rapidly, 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 Gila monster miserably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spoke up Mister Dodo bird crankily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the desert and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gila monster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mister Gila monster ingeniously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dubiously.