Miss Orangutan And The New Neighbor

Miss Orangutan lived on a range in a closet made of dirt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover biscuits and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur," Miss Orangutan interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chattered Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smiled Miss Orangutan surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," trumpeted Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," voiced Miss Orangutan. "I didn't know about any mink. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blustered Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur ignobly. "I heard that this mink likes to fry bouquets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of minks frying bouquets?"

"I can't imagine," complained Miss Orangutan.

"What are we going to do about it?" fantasized Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Miss Orangutan, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Miss Orangutan noisily, 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. Ring-tailed lemur deftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," repeated Miss Orangutan tearfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on her front porch, looking out over the range and exhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grunted Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur clumsily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Orangutan sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied wryly.