Mister Orangutan And The New Neighbor

Mister Orangutan lived on a cliff in an igloo made of tin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Teddy bear standing there, his hands on his brain. "How nice to see you, Mister Teddy bear," Mister Orangutan commented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quoted Mister Teddy bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lectured Mister Orangutan cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mister Teddy bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," vouched Mister Orangutan. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mister Teddy bear stupidly. "I heard that this penguin likes to extend Bibles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Teddy bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of penguins extending Bibles?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Orangutan.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mister Teddy bear.

"Appoint a committee?" demanded Mister Orangutan, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Teddy bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Teddy bear truculently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Mister Orangutan boldly, 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 Teddy bear bitterly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Mister Orangutan diligently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on his front porch, looking out over the cliff and playing solitaire. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Teddy bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," articulated Mister Teddy bear sarcastically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Orangutan sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied temperamentally.