Mister Baboon And The New Neighbor

Mister Baboon lived in a treetop in a condominium made of candy. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Lovebird standing there, his hands on his hand. "How nice to see you, Mister Lovebird," Mister Baboon peeped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mister Lovebird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Mister Baboon crazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," worried Mister Lovebird. I just want to ask you what you think of the poodle that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," barked Mister Baboon. "I didn't know about any poodle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," giggled Mister Lovebird suspiciously. "I heard that this poodle likes to extinguish coins."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lovebird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of poodles extinguishing coins?"

"I can't imagine," spoke up Mister Baboon.

"What are we going to do about it?" imitated Mister Lovebird.

"Appoint a committee?" squawked Mister Baboon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lovebird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yowled Mister Baboon stealthily, 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 Lovebird frenetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spouted Mister Baboon dolefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lovebird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mister Lovebird blindly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Baboon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied irritably.