Mister Banana Slug And The New Neighbor

Mister Banana slug lived on a steppe in a parsonage made of platinum. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ice cream, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Macaque standing there, his hands on his pride. "How nice to see you, Mister Macaque," Mister Banana slug asked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chimed Mister Macaque. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exploded Mister Banana slug swiftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," sniveled Mister Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," interpreted Mister Banana slug. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reacted Mister Macaque furiously. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to kill Lego sets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," protested Mister Banana slug, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Macaque, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of hippopotami killing Lego sets?"

"I can't imagine," debated Mister Banana slug.

"What are we going to do about it?" hummed Mister Macaque.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Mister Banana slug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Mister Banana slug recklessly, 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 Macaque silently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," drawled Mister Banana slug obediently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Macaque. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chuckled Mister Macaque swiftly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Banana slug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied daringly.