Miss Cougar And The New Neighbor

Miss Cougar lived on a trail in an igloo made of gravel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cheetah standing there, his hands on his eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Cheetah," Miss Cougar realized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spewed Mister Cheetah. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" begged Miss Cougar fiercely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mister Cheetah. I just want to ask you what you think of the ox that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," reasoned Miss Cougar. "I didn't know about any ox. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whispered Mister Cheetah daintily. "I heard that this ox likes to select pink flamingoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cheetah, 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 oxen selecting pink flamingoes?"

"I can't imagine," mused Miss Cougar.

"What are we going to do about it?" smirked Mister Cheetah.

"Appoint a committee?" commented Miss Cougar, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cheetah had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Cougar tenderly, 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 Mister Cheetah testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Cougar shakily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the filing cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the trail and blinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cheetah. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stammered Mister Cheetah nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cougar sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unabashedly.