Mister Sheep And The New Neighbor

Mister Sheep lived in a briar patch in a castle made of aluminum. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cheetah standing there, her hands on her toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cheetah," Mister Sheep hissed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pleaded Mrs. Cheetah. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" babbled Mister Sheep strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer float?"

"I can't stay," said Mrs. Cheetah. I just want to ask you what you think of the butterfly that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," persisted Mister Sheep. "I didn't know about any butterfly. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mused Mrs. Cheetah urgently. "I heard that this butterfly likes to slam pom-poms."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cheetah, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of butterflies slamming pom-poms?"

"I can't imagine," harangued Mister Sheep.

"What are we going to do about it?" grunted Mrs. Cheetah.

"Appoint a committee?" gabbed Mister Sheep, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cheetah had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vowed Mister Sheep needlessly, 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. Cheetah obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," announced Mister Sheep wildly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cheetah. Do come again."

"Just a minute," growled Mrs. Cheetah courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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