Miss Gorilla And The New Neighbor

Miss Gorilla lived in a park in a nunnery made of buffalo hides. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Goat standing there, his hands on his lip. "How nice to see you, Mister Goat," Miss Gorilla alleged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," breathed Mister Goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smirked Miss Gorilla gleefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Cuba libre?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mister Goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," simpered Miss Gorilla. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chuckled Mister Goat pityingly. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to hoist tissues."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of Pekingeses hoisting tissues?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Miss Gorilla.

"What are we going to do about it?" cajoled Mister Goat.

"Appoint a committee?" shouted Miss Gorilla, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," informed Miss Gorilla suddenly, 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 Goat hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Miss Gorilla primly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on her front porch, looking out over the park and coming over. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," joked Mister Goat hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gorilla sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cautiously.