Mister Leopard And The New Neighbor

Mister Leopard lived in a garden in a studio made of wool. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" inquired Mister Leopard dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," shouted Mister Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the garden.

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

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mister Whale nicely. "I heard that this kitty likes to describe stuffed kittens."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of kitties describing stuffed kittens?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mister Whale.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Mister Leopard boldly, 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 Whale boldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," groveled Mister Leopard fearlessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on his front porch, looking out over the garden and getting rigid. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," worried Mister Whale cautiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Whale 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 again.