Miss Penguin And The New Neighbor

Miss Penguin lived in a meadow in a nunnery made of thatch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Leopard standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Leopard," Miss Penguin repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," said Mrs. Leopard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Miss Penguin crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," recited Mrs. Leopard. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," mentioned Miss Penguin. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mrs. Leopard shakily. "I heard that this puma likes to bleach cactus plants."

"Um, I don't know what to say," clarified Miss Penguin, 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 meadow when we get a lot of pumas bleaching cactus plants?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Miss Penguin.

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

"Appoint a committee?" warbled Miss Penguin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Leopard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Miss Penguin effortlessly, 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. Leopard nervously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Miss Penguin quietly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Leopard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pointed out Mrs. Leopard tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Penguin thought she had answered, and was beginning to get merry. "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?"

Miss Penguin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied silently.