Mister Lynx And The New Neighbor

Mister Lynx lived in a treetop in a tent made of metal. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, 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 Mrs. Walrus standing there, her hands on her pinky. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Walrus," Mister Lynx observed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chuckled Mrs. Walrus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Mister Lynx cruelly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," conversed Mrs. Walrus. I just want to ask you what you think of the cheetah that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," yawned Mister Lynx. "I didn't know about any cheetah. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," responded Mrs. Walrus suddenly. "I heard that this cheetah likes to identify trash cans."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Walrus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of cheetahs identifying trash cans?"

"I can't imagine," simpered Mister Lynx.

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mrs. Walrus.

"Appoint a committee?" stammered Mister Lynx, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Walrus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Mister Lynx uselessly, 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. Walrus daintily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," informed Mister Lynx gracefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Walrus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whispered Mrs. Walrus admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lynx sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carefully.