Miss Baboon And The New Neighbor

Miss Baboon lived in a countryside in a townhouse made of posts and beams. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" protested Miss Baboon lickety-split, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the gerbil that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," acknowledged Miss Baboon. "I didn't know about any gerbil. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," purred Mrs. Hedgehog lamely. "I heard that this gerbil likes to probe buttons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of gerbils probing buttons?"

"I can't imagine," concluded Miss Baboon.

"What are we going to do about it?" giggled Mrs. Hedgehog.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chimed Miss Baboon sharply, 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. Hedgehog frenetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," guessed Miss Baboon sternly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the countryside and playing Duck Duck Goose. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mrs. Hedgehog uneasily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Baboon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied dolorously.