Mister Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Ring-tailed lemur lived in a cave in a Victorian mansion made of marble. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Teddy bear standing there, her hands on her eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Teddy bear," Mister Ring-tailed lemur hinted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squawked Mrs. Teddy bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Mister Ring-tailed lemur gruffly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," vouched Mrs. Teddy bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the polar bear that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," yelled Mister Ring-tailed lemur. "I didn't know about any polar bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mrs. Teddy bear primly. "I heard that this polar bear likes to tweak Kindles."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spouted Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Teddy bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of polar bears tweaking Kindles?"

"I can't imagine," agreed Mister Ring-tailed lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" remarked Mrs. Teddy bear.

"Appoint a committee?" emphasized Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Teddy bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Teddy bear ingeniously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," informed Mister Ring-tailed lemur nimbly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Teddy bear sympathetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," belched Mister Ring-tailed lemur menacingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the cave and scratching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Teddy bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squeaked Mrs. Teddy bear impatiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Ring-tailed lemur thought he had answered, and was beginning to get perky. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Teddy bear doing these days?"

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

Mister Ring-tailed lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied temperamentally.