Miss Lemur And The New Neighbor

Miss Lemur lived in a hayfield in a loft made of leather. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Duck standing there, her hands on her fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Duck," Miss Lemur judged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," inquired Mrs. Duck. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Miss Lemur ruefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mudslide?"

"I can't stay," snarled Mrs. Duck. I just want to ask you what you think of the seal that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," conversed Miss Lemur. "I didn't know about any seal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mrs. Duck cunningly. "I heard that this seal likes to re-evaluate pipes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Duck, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of seals re-evaluating pipes?"

"I can't imagine," said Miss Lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mrs. Duck.

"Appoint a committee?" asked Miss Lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Duck had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yammered Miss Lemur daintily, 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. Duck haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Miss Lemur briskly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and yawning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Duck. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mumbled Mrs. Duck bravely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sympathetically.