Mister Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Mister Dromedary lived in a country meadow in a house made of rock. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Macaque standing there, his hands on his hair. "How nice to see you, Mister Macaque," Mister Dromedary began, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blathered Mister Macaque. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," informed Mister Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," bawled Mister Dromedary. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reacted Mister Macaque roughly. "I heard that this wolf likes to stain soccer balls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," responded Mister Dromedary, 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 country meadow when we get a lot of wolves staining soccer balls?"

"I can't imagine," shouted Mister Dromedary.

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

"Appoint a committee?" chortled Mister Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cajoled Mister Dromedary lazily, 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 Macaque needlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Mister Dromedary ferociously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the country meadow and snoring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Macaque. Do come again."

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

Mister Dromedary thought he had answered, and was beginning to get haggard. "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?"

Mister Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied jokingly.