Miss Panther And The New Neighbor

Miss Panther lived in a backyard in a box made of papier-mâché. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Goldfish standing there, his hands on his aorta. "How nice to see you, Mister Goldfish," Miss Panther harangued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," responded Mister Goldfish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" preached Miss Panther unexpectedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," boomed Mister Goldfish. I just want to ask you what you think of the parakeet that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," mused Miss Panther. "I didn't know about any parakeet. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cried Mister Goldfish dreamily. "I heard that this parakeet likes to cut abacuses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," snarled Miss Panther, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Goldfish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of parakeets cutting abacuses?"

"I can't imagine," pointed out Miss Panther.

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

"Appoint a committee?" disputed Miss Panther, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goldfish had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whispered Miss Panther crankily, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Goldfish courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Miss Panther pitifully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and hanging around. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goldfish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," accused Mister Goldfish firmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Panther thought she had answered, and was beginning to get lethargic. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Goldfish doing these days?"

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

Miss Panther sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied timidly.