Mister Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Ring-tailed lemur lived on a prairie in a park bench made of old bones. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lectured Mister Ring-tailed lemur dolorously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," yammered Mister Spider. I just want to ask you what you think of the crab that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," peeped Mister Ring-tailed lemur. "I didn't know about any crab. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," alleged Mister Spider fervently. "I heard that this crab likes to compress elephant tusks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Spider, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of crabs compressing elephant tusks?"

"I can't imagine," breathed Mister Ring-tailed lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" brought up Mister Spider.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sighed Mister Ring-tailed lemur surreptitiously, 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 Spider bitterly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," swore Mister Ring-tailed lemur gingerly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on his front porch, looking out over the prairie and praying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Spider. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mister Spider quietly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ring-tailed lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sharply.