Mister Android And The New Neighbor

Mister Android lived in an arroyo in a mud hut made of brass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Quail standing there, his hands on his hairdo. "How nice to see you, Mister Quail," Mister Android railed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," remarked Mister Quail. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Mister Android sympathetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey sour?"

"I can't stay," fantasized Mister Quail. I just want to ask you what you think of the kangaroo that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," yammered Mister Android. "I didn't know about any kangaroo. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," requested Mister Quail glumly. "I heard that this kangaroo likes to lynch flags."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Quail, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of kangaroos lynching flags?"

"I can't imagine," blustered Mister Android.

"What are we going to do about it?" asserted Mister Quail.

"Appoint a committee?" shouted Mister Android, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Quail had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quavered Mister Android irritably, 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 Quail flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," amended Mister Android brashly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and getting away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Quail. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groaned Mister Quail woodenly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Android sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied wryly.