Miss Baboon And The New Neighbor

Miss Baboon lived on a peninsula in a cottage made of old tires. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cat standing there, her hands on her pride. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cat," Miss Baboon whined, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cackled Mrs. Cat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" preached Miss Baboon intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," mentioned Mrs. Cat. I just want to ask you what you think of the android that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," grunted Miss Baboon. "I didn't know about any android. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sobbed Mrs. Cat gracefully. "I heard that this android likes to dress etchings."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of androids dressing etchings?"

"I can't imagine," acknowledged Miss Baboon.

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mrs. Cat.

"Appoint a committee?" mentioned Miss Baboon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Cat calmly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," guessed Miss Baboon stealthily, 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 Mrs. Cat lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Miss Baboon accidentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on her front porch, looking out over the peninsula and wandering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," accused Mrs. Cat strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Baboon thought she 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 Mister Cat doing these days?"

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

Miss Baboon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crossly.