Mister Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Mister Cheetah lived in a rainforest in a trailer made of brass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Parakeet standing there, his hands on his femur. "How nice to see you, Mister Parakeet," Mister Cheetah exclaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interpreted Mister Parakeet. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," concluded Mister Parakeet. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," accused Mister Cheetah. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chanted Mister Parakeet softly. "I heard that this donkey likes to pull brooms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Parakeet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of donkeys pulling brooms?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" whined Mister Parakeet.

"Appoint a committee?" sobbed Mister Cheetah, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Parakeet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," began Mister Cheetah thoughtfully, 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 Parakeet proudly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," affirmed Mister Cheetah tearfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and trembling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Parakeet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniped Mister Parakeet lickety-split. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Parakeet 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 suavely.