Miss Antelope And The New Neighbor

Miss Antelope lived in an outback in a hovel made of stardust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Orangutan standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Orangutan," Miss Antelope demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," grunted Mister Orangutan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Miss Antelope brightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," cajoled Mister Orangutan. I just want to ask you what you think of the zebra that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," mumbled Miss Antelope. "I didn't know about any zebra. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mister Orangutan grimly. "I heard that this zebra likes to twist saws."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Orangutan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of zebras twisting saws?"

"I can't imagine," hollered Miss Antelope.

"What are we going to do about it?" purred Mister Orangutan.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Miss Antelope, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Orangutan had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," trumpeted Miss Antelope stealthily, 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 Orangutan testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," giggled Miss Antelope daringly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wooden crate on her front porch, looking out over the outback and exhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Orangutan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smirked Mister Orangutan vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Antelope sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied later.