Miss Ring-tailed Lemur And The New Neighbor

Miss Ring-tailed lemur lived in a jungle in a bungalow made of linoleum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hors d'oeuvre, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Manatee standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Manatee," Miss Ring-tailed lemur groaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," exploded Mister Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" called Miss Ring-tailed lemur humbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mister Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," rationalized Miss Ring-tailed lemur. "I didn't know about any bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," accused Mister Manatee sleepily. "I heard that this bear likes to flatten pickles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Manatee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of bears flattening pickles?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Ring-tailed lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" squeaked Mister Manatee.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cajoled Miss Ring-tailed lemur calmly, 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 Manatee lickety-split. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whined Miss Ring-tailed lemur testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the jungle and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Manatee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bawled Mister Manatee lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ring-tailed lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied innocently.