Mister Baboon And The New Neighbor

Mister Baboon lived in a grassland in a chalet made of lumber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sweet potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ferret standing there, her hands on her elbow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ferret," Mister Baboon stated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whimpered Mrs. Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Mister Baboon calmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," implored Mrs. Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," asked Mister Baboon. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fretted Mrs. Ferret valiantly. "I heard that this puma likes to blame etchings."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ferret, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of pumas blaming etchings?"

"I can't imagine," clarified Mister Baboon.

"What are we going to do about it?" debated Mrs. Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" provoked Mister Baboon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ferret had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wailed Mister Baboon speedily, 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. Ferret gruffly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Mister Baboon crossly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the grassland and treading water. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mrs. Ferret surreptitiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Baboon thought he had answered, and was beginning to get blubbery. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Ferret doing these days?"

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

Mister Baboon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied tearfully.