Mister Pelican And The New Neighbor

Mister Pelican lived on a mesa in a KOA Kampground made of mud bricks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ring-tailed lemur standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Ring-tailed lemur," Mister Pelican insisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sobbed Mister Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rumored Mister Pelican fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the bunny that's come to the mesa.

"I really don't know," voiced Mister Pelican. "I didn't know about any bunny. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," clarified Mister Ring-tailed lemur calmly. "I heard that this bunny likes to touch flyswatters."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mesa when we get a lot of bunnies touching flyswatters?"

"I can't imagine," opined Mister Pelican.

"What are we going to do about it?" clarified Mister Ring-tailed lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" hinted Mister Pelican, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ring-tailed lemur had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Ring-tailed lemur lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," crooned Mister Pelican cheerfully, 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 Ring-tailed lemur dolorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Mister Pelican awkwardly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the mesa and vomiting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mister Ring-tailed lemur tensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Pelican sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied calmly.