Miss Leopard And The New Neighbor

Miss Leopard lived in a cornfield in a ranch house made of thatch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" griped Miss Leopard jokingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," cried Mrs. Polar bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the cornfield.

"I really don't know," admitted Miss Leopard. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," began Mrs. Polar bear excitedly. "I heard that this hornet likes to control necklaces."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Polar bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cornfield when we get a lot of hornets controlling necklaces?"

"I can't imagine," interpreted Miss Leopard.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mrs. Polar bear.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Miss Leopard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Polar bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Polar bear zestily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Miss Leopard numbly, 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. Polar bear intensely. "You always have such good ideas."

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

"Just a minute," intimated Mrs. Polar bear fiercely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Leopard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied dubiously.