Mister Cheetah And The New Neighbor

Mister Cheetah lived on a plateau in a geodesic dome made of wool. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" joked Mister Cheetah arrogantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Harvey Wallbanger?"

"I can't stay," yowled Mister Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the walrus that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," snarled Mister Cheetah. "I didn't know about any walrus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mister Whale tearfully. "I heard that this walrus likes to return spinning wheels."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of walruses returning spinning wheels?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" begged Mister Whale.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," muttered Mister Cheetah bitterly, 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 Whale nonchalantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," proposed Mister Cheetah kindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on his front porch, looking out over the plateau and muttering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Whale. Do come again."

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

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

Mister Whale 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 dolefully.