Mister Leopard And The New Neighbor

Mister Leopard lived on a plain in a boxcar made of plastic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Shrew standing there, her hands on her bicep. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Shrew," Mister Leopard interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mrs. Shrew. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spat Mister Leopard sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," remarked Mrs. Shrew. I just want to ask you what you think of the Norway rat that's come to the plain.

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

"Well don't be so sure," mumbled Mrs. Shrew angrily. "I heard that this Norway rat likes to pound ice cream cones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Shrew, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of Norway rats pounding ice cream cones?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" continued Mrs. Shrew.

"Appoint a committee?" peeped Mister Leopard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Shrew had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniveled Mister Leopard sheepishly, 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. Shrew blankly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," said Mister Leopard courteously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on his front porch, looking out over the plain and waiting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Shrew. Do come again."

"Just a minute," breathed Mrs. Shrew proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Shrew 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 trustingly.