Miss Leopard And The New Neighbor

Miss Leopard lived on a hillside in a houseboat made of fiberglass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Falcon standing there, his hands on his toenail. "How nice to see you, Mister Falcon," Miss Leopard squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groaned Mister Falcon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" ranted Miss Leopard sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," spewed Mister Falcon. I just want to ask you what you think of the robot that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," squawked Miss Leopard. "I didn't know about any robot. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mister Falcon deftly. "I heard that this robot likes to hammer pizzas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Falcon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of robots hammering pizzas?"

"I can't imagine," reacted Miss Leopard.

"What are we going to do about it?" screamed Mister Falcon.

"Appoint a committee?" squawked Miss Leopard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Falcon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," exclaimed Miss Leopard greedily, 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 Falcon violently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rambled Miss Leopard languidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the hillside and grinning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Falcon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniffed Mister Falcon caustically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Leopard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.