Mister Hamster And The New Neighbor

Mister Hamster lived beside a river in a penthouse made of kelp. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Orangutan standing there, her hands on her midriff. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Orangutan," Mister Hamster squeaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chimed Mrs. Orangutan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hissed Mister Hamster curiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of rum?"

"I can't stay," divulged Mrs. Orangutan. I just want to ask you what you think of the brine shrimp that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," commented Mister Hamster. "I didn't know about any brine shrimp. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," affirmed Mrs. Orangutan dolorously. "I heard that this brine shrimp likes to burn tickets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Orangutan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of brine shrimp burning tickets?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Mister Hamster.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mrs. Orangutan.

"Appoint a committee?" lectured Mister Hamster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Orangutan had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yawned Mister Hamster patiently, 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 Mrs. Orangutan ruefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," conversed Mister Hamster sharply, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on his front porch, looking out over the river and typing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Orangutan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," began Mrs. Orangutan gracefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hamster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sheepishly.