Miss Gorilla And The New Neighbor

Miss Gorilla lived on a mountaintop in a motel made of wicker. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Finch standing there, her hands on her wrist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Finch," Miss Gorilla enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," railed Mrs. Finch. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pointed out Miss Gorilla carefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," simpered Mrs. Finch. I just want to ask you what you think of the phantom that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," brought up Miss Gorilla. "I didn't know about any phantom. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," roared Mrs. Finch fondly. "I heard that this phantom likes to comprehend pieces of candy."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Finch, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of phantoms comprehending pieces of candy?"

"I can't imagine," railed Miss Gorilla.

"What are we going to do about it?" voiced Mrs. Finch.

"Appoint a committee?" alleged Miss Gorilla, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Finch had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Finch ferociously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Miss Gorilla awkwardly, 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 Mrs. Finch confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spoke up Miss Gorilla carefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the table on her front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and peeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Finch. Do come again."

"Just a minute," prattled Mrs. Finch boldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gorilla sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied brightly.