Mister Lion And The New Neighbor

Mister Lion lived on a seacoast in a stinky shack made of reeds. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Froot Loops, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mongoose standing there, his hands on his hair. "How nice to see you, Mister Mongoose," Mister Lion fretted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bellowed Mister Mongoose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" brought up Mister Lion languidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mai Tai?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Mongoose. I just want to ask you what you think of the gopher that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," intimated Mister Lion. "I didn't know about any gopher. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mister Mongoose nimbly. "I heard that this gopher likes to probe hubcaps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mongoose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of gophers probing hubcaps?"

"I can't imagine," blurted Mister Lion.

"What are we going to do about it?" wailed Mister Mongoose.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Mister Lion, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mongoose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," screamed Mister Lion peevishly, 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 Mongoose peevishly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," boasted Mister Lion warily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the seacoast and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mongoose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mister Mongoose boisterously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lion sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied positively.