Mister Lion And The New Neighbor

Mister Lion lived in a desert in a quonset hut made of pebbles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Buzzard standing there, her hands on her spleen. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Buzzard," Mister Lion stormed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reminded Mrs. Buzzard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smiled Mister Lion slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," screeched Mrs. Buzzard. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," quavered Mister Lion. "I didn't know about any bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," prattled Mrs. Buzzard grudgingly. "I heard that this bear likes to liquify wastebaskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Buzzard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of bears liquifying wastebaskets?"

"I can't imagine," mused Mister Lion.

"What are we going to do about it?" questioned Mrs. Buzzard.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Mister Lion, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Buzzard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Mister Lion caustically, 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. Buzzard accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," admitted Mister Lion gracefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on his front porch, looking out over the desert and collapsing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Buzzard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," ranted Mrs. Buzzard sagely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lion sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blankly.