Miss Meerkat And The New Neighbor

Miss Meerkat lived in a swamp in a Victorian mansion made of papier-mâché. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Baboon standing there, her hands on her skin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Baboon," Miss Meerkat exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stated Mrs. Baboon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Miss Meerkat flightily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," lectured Mrs. Baboon. I just want to ask you what you think of the ant that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," persisted Miss Meerkat. "I didn't know about any ant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," smirked Mrs. Baboon angrily. "I heard that this ant likes to understand rubber stamps."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Baboon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of ants understanding rubber stamps?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Miss Meerkat.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mrs. Baboon.

"Appoint a committee?" drawled Miss Meerkat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Baboon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Miss Meerkat again, 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. Baboon recklessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," instructed Miss Meerkat joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and expectorating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Baboon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," tittered Mrs. Baboon courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Meerkat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied despondently.