Mister Baboon And The New Neighbor

Mister Baboon lived in a countryside in a travel trailer made of sandstone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pecan pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur standing there, her hands on her little toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur," Mister Baboon reasoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," panted Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intoned Mister Baboon effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," babbled Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the beaver that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," commented Mister Baboon. "I didn't know about any beaver. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," growled Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur offhandedly. "I heard that this beaver likes to grip lollipops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of beavers gripping lollipops?"

"I can't imagine," rumored Mister Baboon.

"What are we going to do about it?" groveled Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur.

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

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur reluctantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Mister Baboon charmingly, 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 Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur quickly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Mister Baboon woodenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and hollering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," demanded Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur temperamentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Baboon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied later.