Mister Lemur And The New Neighbor

Mister Lemur lived on a wasteland in a mobile home made of iron. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, 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 Orangutan standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Orangutan," Mister Lemur squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," repeated Mister Orangutan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" queried Mister Lemur courageously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mister Orangutan. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the wasteland.

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

"Well don't be so sure," snorted Mister Orangutan thoughtfully. "I heard that this puma likes to shove baby dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Orangutan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the wasteland when we get a lot of pumas shoving baby dolls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" acknowledged Mister Orangutan.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fumed Mister Lemur daintily, 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 Orangutan excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," queried Mister Lemur arrogantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the wasteland and wiggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Orangutan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reacted Mister Orangutan dubiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Orangutan 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 resignedly.