Mister Hyena And The New Neighbor

Mister Hyena lived on a mountainside in a monastery made of sheet metal. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Gecko standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Gecko," Mister Hyena uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asked Mister Gecko. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" taunted Mister Hyena dolefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Gecko. I just want to ask you what you think of the canary that's come to the mountainside.

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

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Gecko thankfully. "I heard that this canary likes to label microphones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gecko, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of canaries labeling microphones?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" demanded Mister Gecko.

"Appoint a committee?" debated Mister Hyena, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gecko had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quavered Mister Hyena strictly, 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 Gecko sagely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blurted Mister Hyena joyously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and whistling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gecko. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mister Gecko breathlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Gecko 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 tenderly.