Miss Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Miss Cheetah lived in a swamp in a Cape Cod made of Elmer's glue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dalmatian standing there, her hands on her thorax. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dalmatian," Miss Cheetah emphasized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reacted Mrs. Dalmatian. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asserted Miss Cheetah cautiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," chuckled Mrs. Dalmatian. I just want to ask you what you think of the bullfrog that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," orated Miss Cheetah. "I didn't know about any bullfrog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," noted Mrs. Dalmatian proudly. "I heard that this bullfrog likes to leave pairs of knitting needles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dalmatian, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of bullfrogs leaving pairs of knitting needles?"

"I can't imagine," exploded Miss Cheetah.

"What are we going to do about it?" whispered Mrs. Dalmatian.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Miss Cheetah, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dalmatian had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," amended Miss Cheetah unexpectedly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Dalmatian perkily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Miss Cheetah shakily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and growling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dalmatian. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mrs. Dalmatian again. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cheetah sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied obediently.