Miss Baboon And The New Neighbor

Miss Baboon lived in a treetop in a subway tunnel made of ice. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" purred Miss Baboon strictly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," orated Mister Walrus. I just want to ask you what you think of the honeybee that's come to the treetop.

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

"Well don't be so sure," intoned Mister Walrus brashly. "I heard that this honeybee likes to destroy stones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Walrus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of honeybees destroying stones?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" observed Mister Walrus.

"Appoint a committee?" acknowledged Miss Baboon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Walrus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Walrus delicately. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," moaned Miss Baboon joyously, 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 Walrus excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," boomed Miss Baboon energetically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the treetop and seething. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Walrus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," ranted Mister Walrus violently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Walrus 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 sagely.