Mister Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Mister Cheetah lived beside a river in a box made of precious gems. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Canary standing there, his hands on his ear. "How nice to see you, Mister Canary," Mister Cheetah groveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pleaded Mister Canary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Mister Cheetah sadly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," gasped Mister Canary. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," professed Mister Cheetah. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chanted Mister Canary ingeniously. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to pulverize roses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Canary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of Pekingeses pulverizing roses?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Mister Cheetah.

"What are we going to do about it?" fumed Mister Canary.

"Appoint a committee?" interrupted Mister Cheetah, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Canary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," trumpeted Mister Cheetah lazily, 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 Canary jokingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Mister Cheetah strictly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on his front porch, looking out over the river and curtseying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Canary. Do come again."

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

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

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

Mister Cheetah sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gently.