Miss Opossum And The New Neighbor

Miss Opossum lived at a seashore in a yurt made of wicker. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ring-tailed lemur standing there, his hands on his ankle. "How nice to see you, Mister Ring-tailed lemur," Miss Opossum smiled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," contended Mister Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" grieved Miss Opossum greedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," yelled Mister Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the coyote that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," harangued Miss Opossum. "I didn't know about any coyote. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vowed Mister Ring-tailed lemur unnaturally. "I heard that this coyote likes to interpret primroses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of coyotes interpreting primroses?"

"I can't imagine," hollered Miss Opossum.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mister Ring-tailed lemur.

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

"That's exactly right," said Mister Ring-tailed lemur deliberately. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," wept Miss Opossum thankfully, 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 Ring-tailed lemur demurely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Miss Opossum strictly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on her front porch, looking out over the seashore and shrugging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mister Ring-tailed lemur greedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Opossum sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied blindly.