Mister Ferret And The New Neighbor

Mister Ferret lived in a marsh in a chalet made of flour paste. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Leopard standing there, her hands on her Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Leopard," Mister Ferret agreed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," commented Mrs. Leopard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Mister Ferret proudly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," quavered Mrs. Leopard. I just want to ask you what you think of the dragon that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," exploded Mister Ferret. "I didn't know about any dragon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," disputed Mrs. Leopard hopefully. "I heard that this dragon likes to overturn boxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Leopard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of dragons overturning boxes?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Mister Ferret.

"What are we going to do about it?" murmured Mrs. Leopard.

"Appoint a committee?" ranted Mister Ferret, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Leopard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Mister Ferret 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 Mrs. Leopard pitifully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," instructed Mister Ferret zestily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and getting along. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Leopard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," moaned Mrs. Leopard frenetically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ferret sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied majestically.