Miss Panther And The New Neighbor

Miss Panther lived in a park in an igloo made of papyrus. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hedgehog standing there, his hands on his head. "How nice to see you, Mister Hedgehog," Miss Panther spouted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," implored Mister Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" repeated Miss Panther deliberately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mister Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the louse that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," spouted Miss Panther. "I didn't know about any louse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reasoned Mister Hedgehog awkwardly. "I heard that this louse likes to chop pigeons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of lice chopping pigeons?"

"I can't imagine," boasted Miss Panther.

"What are we going to do about it?" expressed Mister Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" cackled Miss Panther, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hedgehog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stuttered Miss Panther neatly, 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 Hedgehog grudgingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Miss Panther solemnly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wine rack on her front porch, looking out over the park and digesting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fretted Mister Hedgehog busily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Panther sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied properly.