Mister Panther And The New Neighbor

Mister Panther lived on a savanna in a condominium made of banana leaves. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Elk standing there, her hands on her eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elk," Mister Panther appealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," winked Mrs. Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniped Mister Panther daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mrs. Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," vouched Mister Panther. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mrs. Elk lickety-split. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to slam fishhooks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of teddy bears slamming fishhooks?"

"I can't imagine," sighed Mister Panther.

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mrs. Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" hollered Mister Panther, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Mister Panther temperamentally, 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. Elk cunningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cried Mister Panther clumsily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and getting away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," articulated Mrs. Elk thankfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Panther sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied reluctantly.