Mister Hyena And The New Neighbor

Mister Hyena lived in an arroyo in a Spanish colonial made of feathers. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Donkey standing there, her hands on her belly button. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Donkey," Mister Hyena ranted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," smiled Mrs. Donkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" uttered Mister Hyena flightily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," shrieked Mrs. Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," preached Mister Hyena. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," ranted Mrs. Donkey charmingly. "I heard that this hornet likes to roast stacks of papers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Donkey, 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 hornets roasting stacks of papers?"

"I can't imagine," called Mister Hyena.

"What are we going to do about it?" quavered Mrs. Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Mister Hyena, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," professed Mister Hyena gingerly, 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. Donkey openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," drawled Mister Hyena majestically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hinted Mrs. Donkey ruefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hyena sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied intensely.