Miss Chimpanzee And The New Neighbor

Miss Chimpanzee lived in a pond in a log cabin made of wattle and daub. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cockatiel standing there, her hands on her nose. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cockatiel," Miss Chimpanzee panted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," ranted Mrs. Cockatiel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" joked Miss Chimpanzee oddly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mrs. Cockatiel. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," voiced Miss Chimpanzee. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mrs. Cockatiel arrogantly. "I heard that this wolf likes to hurl orchids."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockatiel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of wolves hurling orchids?"

"I can't imagine," mouthed Miss Chimpanzee.

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mrs. Cockatiel.

"Appoint a committee?" commented Miss Chimpanzee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cockatiel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Cockatiel curiously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," accused Miss Chimpanzee sheepishly, 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 Mrs. Cockatiel wryly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniped Miss Chimpanzee steadily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the pond and seething. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockatiel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," drawled Mrs. Cockatiel swiftly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Chimpanzee thought she had answered, and was beginning to get happy. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Cockatiel doing these days?"

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

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