Mister Leopard And The New Neighbor

Mister Leopard lived on a trail in a studio made of limestone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mongoose standing there, his hands on his knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mister Mongoose," Mister Leopard protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mister Mongoose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bragged Mister Leopard boisterously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," laughed Mister Mongoose. I just want to ask you what you think of the fawn that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," purred Mister Leopard. "I didn't know about any fawn. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," phrased Mister Mongoose coldly. "I heard that this fawn likes to curl piggy banks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mongoose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of fawns curling piggy banks?"

"I can't imagine," roared Mister Leopard.

"What are we going to do about it?" remarked Mister Mongoose.

"Appoint a committee?" moaned Mister Leopard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mongoose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hummed Mister Leopard automatically, 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 Mongoose peevishly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," remarked Mister Leopard nicely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the trail and coming over. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mongoose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister Mongoose offhandedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Leopard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied ferociously.