Miss Macaque And The New Neighbor

Miss Macaque lived on a plain in a box made of burlap. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cow standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cow," Miss Macaque fretted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," piped up Mrs. Cow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" giggled Miss Macaque primly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," uttered Mrs. Cow. I just want to ask you what you think of the gila monster that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," lectured Miss Macaque. "I didn't know about any gila monster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mumbled Mrs. Cow energetically. "I heard that this gila monster likes to pummel radios."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of gila monsters pummeling radios?"

"I can't imagine," boomed Miss Macaque.

"What are we going to do about it?" mumbled Mrs. Cow.

"Appoint a committee?" shouted Miss Macaque, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bragged Miss Macaque swiftly, 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. Cow calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," winked Miss Macaque unnaturally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the plain and wandering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," joked Mrs. Cow daringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Macaque sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crankily.