Mister Hyena And The New Neighbor

Mister Hyena lived in a jungle in a hotel made of satin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sauerkraut, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Duck-billed platypus standing there, her hands on her thumb. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Duck-billed platypus," Mister Hyena decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," begged Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sighed Mister Hyena victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mai Tai?"

"I can't stay," peeped Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. I just want to ask you what you think of the manatee that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," warbled Mister Hyena. "I didn't know about any manatee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squeaked Mrs. Duck-billed platypus dreamily. "I heard that this manatee likes to refurbish advertisements."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Duck-billed platypus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of manatees refurbishing advertisements?"

"I can't imagine," squealed Mister Hyena.

"What are we going to do about it?" responded Mrs. Duck-billed platypus.

"Appoint a committee?" chanted Mister Hyena, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Duck-billed platypus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Duck-billed platypus vacantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Mister Hyena valiantly, 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. Duck-billed platypus calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Hyena clumsily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and gesticulating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mrs. Duck-billed platypus neatly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Hyena thought he had answered, and was beginning to get wicked. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Duck-billed platypus doing these days?"

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

Mister Hyena sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied resignedly.