Miss Baboon And The New Neighbor

Miss Baboon lived in a swamp in a nunnery made of plaster. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beans, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dodo bird standing there, his hands on his fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mister Dodo bird," Miss Baboon blathered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mister Dodo bird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mused Miss Baboon excitedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mudslide?"

"I can't stay," chattered Mister Dodo bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the bird that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," quoted Miss Baboon. "I didn't know about any bird. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," requested Mister Dodo bird breathlessly. "I heard that this bird likes to poke cages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dodo bird, 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 birds poking cages?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mister Dodo bird.

"Appoint a committee?" pointed out Miss Baboon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dodo bird had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Dodo bird neatly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," vowed Miss Baboon fearlessly, 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 Dodo bird merrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rambled Miss Baboon silently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and shaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dodo bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," noted Mister Dodo bird reluctantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Dodo bird 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 lickety-split.