Mister Chicken And The New Neighbor

Mister Chicken lived on a veld in a townhouse made of construction paper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Jaguar standing there, his hands on his dignity. "How nice to see you, Mister Jaguar," Mister Chicken accused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wondered Mister Jaguar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Mister Chicken obediently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mister Jaguar. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the veld.

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

"Well don't be so sure," realized Mister Jaguar cleverly. "I heard that this bear likes to taste helmets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Jaguar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of bears tasting helmets?"

"I can't imagine," taunted Mister Chicken.

"What are we going to do about it?" lamented Mister Jaguar.

"Appoint a committee?" vouched Mister Chicken, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Jaguar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spouted Mister Chicken deftly, 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 Jaguar victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Mister Chicken carefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the veld and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Jaguar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grieved Mister Jaguar jokingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Chicken 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 Mrs. Jaguar doing these days?"

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

Mister Chicken sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cunningly.