Mister Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Ring-tailed lemur lived in a hayfield in an apartment made of lace. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Goldfish standing there, his hands on his liver. "How nice to see you, Mister Goldfish," Mister Ring-tailed lemur insisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," disputed Mister Goldfish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Mister Ring-tailed lemur deftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a kamikaze?"

"I can't stay," uttered Mister Goldfish. I just want to ask you what you think of the raccoon that's come to the hayfield.

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

"Well don't be so sure," lectured Mister Goldfish thoughtfully. "I heard that this raccoon likes to wrap cans of sardines."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goldfish, 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 raccoons wrapping cans of sardines?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" amended Mister Goldfish.

"Appoint a committee?" wondered Mister Ring-tailed lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goldfish had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Mister Ring-tailed lemur positively, 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 Mister Goldfish unnaturally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quavered Mister Ring-tailed lemur happily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the hayfield and crouching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goldfish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chanted Mister Goldfish grudgingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Goldfish 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 patiently.