Mister Monkey And The New Neighbor

Mister Monkey lived in a rainforest in a farmhouse made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Guinea pig standing there, his hands on his buttocks. "How nice to see you, Mister Guinea pig," Mister Monkey trumpeted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shuddered Mister Guinea pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" worried Mister Monkey offhandedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," provoked Mister Guinea pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the panther that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," decided Mister Monkey. "I didn't know about any panther. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mister Guinea pig timidly. "I heard that this panther likes to weigh vacuum cleaners."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Guinea pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of panthers weighing vacuum cleaners?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Mister Monkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" indicated Mister Guinea pig.

"Appoint a committee?" vouched Mister Monkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Guinea pig had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Guinea pig charmingly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," hissed Mister Monkey sadly, 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 Guinea pig sarcastically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Mister Monkey lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the rainforest and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Guinea pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mister Guinea pig fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Monkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied charmingly.