Miss Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Miss Ring-tailed lemur lived in a grassland in a parsonage made of titanium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Muskrat standing there, his hands on his eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mister Muskrat," Miss Ring-tailed lemur interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," judged Mister Muskrat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Miss Ring-tailed lemur brightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the panther that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," affirmed Miss Ring-tailed lemur. "I didn't know about any panther. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," smiled Mister Muskrat zestily. "I heard that this panther likes to measure telephone books."

"Um, I don't know what to say," answered Miss Ring-tailed lemur, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of panthers measureing telephone books?"

"I can't imagine," called Miss Ring-tailed lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mister Muskrat.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," burbled Miss Ring-tailed lemur miserably, 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 Muskrat uneasily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gabbed Miss Ring-tailed lemur hopelessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and squealing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," howled Mister Muskrat blankly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ring-tailed lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courteously.