Miss Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Miss Ring-tailed lemur lived on an island in a monastery made of Portland cement. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover biscuits and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ghost standing there, her hands on her pituitary gland. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ghost," Miss Ring-tailed lemur wailed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bellowed Mrs. Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" informed Miss Ring-tailed lemur strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a shot of bourbon?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mrs. Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the poodle that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," expressed Miss Ring-tailed lemur. "I didn't know about any poodle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mrs. Ghost crazily. "I heard that this poodle likes to squash amulets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," belched Miss Ring-tailed lemur, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of poodles squashing amulets?"

"I can't imagine," yawned Miss Ring-tailed lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" snorted Mrs. Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" blathered Miss Ring-tailed lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," orated Miss Ring-tailed lemur cruelly, 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. Ghost grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Miss Ring-tailed lemur sympathetically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the island and growing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blathered Mrs. Ghost coolly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ring-tailed lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied solemnly.