Mister Buzzard And The New Neighbor

Mister Buzzard lived on a plain in a manor made of ashes. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Leopard standing there, his hands on his abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mister Leopard," Mister Buzzard yelled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," brought up Mister Leopard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" screamed Mister Buzzard lazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," reasoned Mister Leopard. I just want to ask you what you think of the polecat that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," chuckled Mister Buzzard. "I didn't know about any polecat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mister Leopard carefully. "I heard that this polecat likes to yank darts."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Leopard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of polecats yanking darts?"

"I can't imagine," provoked Mister Buzzard.

"What are we going to do about it?" gasped Mister Leopard.

"Appoint a committee?" informed Mister Buzzard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Leopard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," simpered Mister Buzzard impatiently, 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 Mister Leopard coolly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Mister Buzzard surreptitiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on his front porch, looking out over the plain and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Leopard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quavered Mister Leopard fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Buzzard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grandly.