Miss Partridge And The New Neighbor

Miss Partridge lived in a jungle in a subway tunnel made of precious gems. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Macaque standing there, his hands on his tail. "How nice to see you, Mister Macaque," Miss Partridge agreed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," smiled Mister Macaque. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Miss Partridge numbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," wailed Mister Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the chimpanzee that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," cajoled Miss Partridge. "I didn't know about any chimpanzee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mister Macaque queerly. "I heard that this chimpanzee likes to tweak maps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Macaque, 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 chimpanzees tweaking maps?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Miss Partridge.

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mister Macaque.

"Appoint a committee?" rambled Miss Partridge, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," brought up Miss Partridge suddenly, 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 Macaque wryly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screeched Miss Partridge glibly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on her front porch, looking out over the jungle and dithering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Macaque. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groveled Mister Macaque courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Partridge sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied narrowly.