Mister Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Lemur lived on a hillside in a ranch house made of bronze. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Oyster standing there, his hands on his brain. "How nice to see you, Mister Oyster," Mister Lemur instructed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," growled Mister Oyster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bellowed Mister Lemur accidentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," panted Mister Oyster. I just want to ask you what you think of the colt that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," explained Mister Lemur. "I didn't know about any colt. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whined Mister Oyster softly. "I heard that this colt likes to spin Bunsen burners."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Oyster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of colts spinning Bunsen burners?"

"I can't imagine," interpreted Mister Lemur.

"What are we going to do about it?" rambled Mister Oyster.

"Appoint a committee?" screeched Mister Lemur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Oyster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," smirked Mister Lemur timidly, 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 Oyster quickly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Mister Lemur offhandedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the hillside and pondering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Oyster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," recited Mister Oyster impatiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lemur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sweetly.