Miss Zebra And The New Neighbor

Miss Zebra lived beside a river in a cardboard box made of fiber. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gorilla standing there, his hands on his larynx. "How nice to see you, Mister Gorilla," Miss Zebra laughed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," lectured Mister Gorilla. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Miss Zebra positively, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mister Gorilla. I just want to ask you what you think of the fawn that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," appealed Miss Zebra. "I didn't know about any fawn. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," avowed Mister Gorilla gracefully. "I heard that this fawn likes to unfold abacuses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gorilla, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of fawns unfolding abacuses?"

"I can't imagine," reacted Miss Zebra.

"What are we going to do about it?" wept Mister Gorilla.

"Appoint a committee?" divulged Miss Zebra, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gorilla had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Miss Zebra ignobly, 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 Gorilla uneasily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," answered Miss Zebra fervently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the river and playing solitaire. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gorilla. Do come again."

"Just a minute," muttered Mister Gorilla carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Zebra thought she 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. Gorilla doing these days?"

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

Miss Zebra sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gratefully.