Mister Macaque And The New Neighbor

Mister Macaque lived in a meadow in a junk car made of axle grease. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Raven standing there, his hands on his pituitary gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Raven," Mister Macaque mentioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," muttered Mister Raven. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boomed Mister Macaque victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," begged Mister Raven. I just want to ask you what you think of the musk-ox that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," rumored Mister Macaque. "I didn't know about any musk-ox. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," muttered Mister Raven positively. "I heard that this musk-ox likes to prohibit coins."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Raven, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of musk-oxen prohibiting coins?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" pronounced Mister Raven.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Mister Macaque clumsily, 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 Raven unexpectedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intoned Mister Macaque speedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the meadow and yelping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Raven. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chanted Mister Raven delicately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Raven 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 resignedly.