Mister Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Mister Cheetah lived in a grassland in a flat made of rubble. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Colt standing there, his hands on his earlobe. "How nice to see you, Mister Colt," Mister Cheetah offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wept Mister Colt. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" roared Mister Cheetah wildly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," voiced Mister Colt. I just want to ask you what you think of the muskrat that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," blubbered Mister Cheetah. "I didn't know about any muskrat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fantasized Mister Colt sadly. "I heard that this muskrat likes to heat dog biscuits."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Colt, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of muskrats heating dog biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," implored Mister Cheetah.

"What are we going to do about it?" muttered Mister Colt.

"Appoint a committee?" whined Mister Cheetah, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Colt had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," analyzed Mister Cheetah brightly, 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 Colt excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smiled Mister Cheetah suspiciously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the grassland and stepping aside. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Colt. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister Colt openly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cheetah sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied slowly.