Mister Canary And The New Neighbor

Mister Canary lived in a marsh in an apartment made of uranium. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lamb curry, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

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

"I can't stay," protested Mister Cheetah. I just want to ask you what you think of the macaque that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," interpreted Mister Canary. "I didn't know about any macaque. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," proposed Mister Cheetah effortlessly. "I heard that this macaque likes to silence acorns."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cheetah, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of macaques silencing acorns?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Mister Canary.

"What are we going to do about it?" wondered Mister Cheetah.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Canary 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 Mister Cheetah speedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exclaimed Mister Canary threateningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cheetah. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mister Cheetah breathlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Canary 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. Cheetah doing these days?"

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

Mister Canary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied timidly.