Mister Puma And The New Neighbor

Mister Puma lived on a moonscape in a townhouse made of fiberglass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hors d'oeuvre, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Skunk standing there, his hands on his chin. "How nice to see you, Mister Skunk," Mister Puma repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," remarked Mister Skunk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" emphasized Mister Puma admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mister Skunk. I just want to ask you what you think of the mongoose that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," cried Mister Puma. "I didn't know about any mongoose. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," admitted Mister Skunk tensely. "I heard that this mongoose likes to cover tubes of toothpaste."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Skunk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of mongeese covering tubes of toothpaste?"

"I can't imagine," hissed Mister Puma.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Skunk.

"Appoint a committee?" barked Mister Puma, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Skunk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," avowed Mister Puma dolefully, 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 Skunk threateningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mused Mister Puma boisterously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Skunk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," ranted Mister Skunk warily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Puma sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied impatiently.