Mister Macaque And The New Neighbor

Mister Macaque lived on a path in a yurt made of precious gems. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Leopard standing there, his hands on his vein. "How nice to see you, Mister Leopard," Mister Macaque snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," revealed Mister Leopard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Mister Macaque gleefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," shouted Mister Leopard. I just want to ask you what you think of the cocker spaniel that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," chortled Mister Macaque. "I didn't know about any cocker spaniel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," observed Mister Leopard calmly. "I heard that this cocker spaniel likes to maintain pencils."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Leopard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of cocker spaniels maintaining pencils?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Mister Macaque.

"What are we going to do about it?" concluded Mister Leopard.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Mister Macaque, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Leopard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," voiced Mister Macaque uselessly, 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 Leopard swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Mister Macaque haughtily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the path and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Leopard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," implored Mister Leopard unnaturally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Macaque sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blankly.