Mister Wolverine And The New Neighbor

Mister Wolverine lived in a treetop in a park bench made of old bones. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Meerkat standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Meerkat," Mister Wolverine drawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," acknowledged Mrs. Meerkat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fumed Mister Wolverine despondently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," howled Mrs. Meerkat. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," lectured Mister Wolverine. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," remarked Mrs. Meerkat dolorously. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to load cans of beer."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Meerkat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of hippopotami loading cans of beer?"

"I can't imagine," chanted Mister Wolverine.

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mrs. Meerkat.

"Appoint a committee?" sobbed Mister Wolverine, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Meerkat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Mister Wolverine uselessly, 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 Mrs. Meerkat tenderly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vowed Mister Wolverine innocently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Meerkat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mrs. Meerkat haughtily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Wolverine sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied nervously.