Mister Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Mister Cheetah lived on a veld in a hovel made of marbles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Anaconda standing there, her hands on her claw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Anaconda," Mister Cheetah professed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," imitated Mrs. Anaconda. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Mister Cheetah silently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Irish Coffee?"

"I can't stay," chattered Mrs. Anaconda. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the veld.

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

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mrs. Anaconda offhandedly. "I heard that this mink likes to analyze cactus plants."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Anaconda, 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 minks analyzing cactus plants?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" protested Mrs. Anaconda.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Mister Cheetah, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Anaconda had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," questioned Mister Cheetah mysteriously, 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. Anaconda confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mumbled Mister Cheetah haughtily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on his front porch, looking out over the veld and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Anaconda. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grunted Mrs. Anaconda confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Anaconda 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 anxiously.