Mister Lynx And The New Neighbor

Mister Lynx lived on a steppe in a box made of cork. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Musk-ox standing there, his hands on his abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mister Musk-ox," Mister Lynx debated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," warbled Mister Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Mister Lynx tenderly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," divulged Mister Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the mustang that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," voiced Mister Lynx. "I didn't know about any mustang. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stated Mister Musk-ox sympathetically. "I heard that this mustang likes to slice tennis rackets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of mustangs slicing tennis rackets?"

"I can't imagine," recited Mister Lynx.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelped Mister Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" divulged Mister Lynx, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Musk-ox speedily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," insisted Mister Lynx lamely, 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 Musk-ox roughly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," offered Mister Lynx testily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and looking dumb. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spewed Mister Musk-ox happily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lynx sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grimly.