Mister Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Ring-tailed lemur lived on a range in a cardboard box made of plaster of Paris. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Basset hound standing there, her hands on her lip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Basset hound," Mister Ring-tailed lemur rationalized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," answered Mrs. Basset hound. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" suggested Mister Ring-tailed lemur neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mrs. Basset hound. I just want to ask you what you think of the ox that's come to the range.

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

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mrs. Basset hound admiringly. "I heard that this ox likes to decorate pop bottles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Basset hound, 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 oxen decorating pop bottles?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" wept Mrs. Basset hound.

"Appoint a committee?" cajoled Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Basset hound had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Basset hound arrogantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," chuckled Mister Ring-tailed lemur irritably, 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. Basset hound reluctantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Mister Ring-tailed lemur automatically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the table on his front porch, looking out over the range and scratching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Basset hound. Do come again."

"Just a minute," called Mrs. Basset hound vigorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Basset hound 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 vigorously.