Mister Leopard And The New Neighbor

Mister Leopard lived on a tundra in a monastery made of toothpicks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Koala standing there, his hands on his throat. "How nice to see you, Mister Koala," Mister Leopard prattled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chattered Mister Koala. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" jeered Mister Leopard fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mister Koala. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the tundra.

"I really don't know," answered Mister Leopard. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pointed out Mister Koala gently. "I heard that this ghost likes to scrub beach balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Koala, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the tundra when we get a lot of ghosts scrubbing beach balls?"

"I can't imagine," warbled Mister Leopard.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mister Koala.

"Appoint a committee?" fretted Mister Leopard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Koala had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," panted Mister Leopard lovingly, 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 Koala blissfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," inquired Mister Leopard suspiciously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on his front porch, looking out over the tundra and pacing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Koala. Do come again."

"Just a minute," boomed Mister Koala coldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Leopard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blindly.