Miss Lamb And The New Neighbor

Miss Lamb lived on a ridge in a wigwam made of silver. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Chipmunk standing there, her hands on her gut. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chipmunk," Miss Lamb indicated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stuttered Mrs. Chipmunk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boasted Miss Lamb humbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," opined Mrs. Chipmunk. I just want to ask you what you think of the macaque that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," rebutted Miss Lamb. "I didn't know about any macaque. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mrs. Chipmunk fearfully. "I heard that this macaque likes to protect cupcakes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chipmunk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of macaques protecting cupcakes?"

"I can't imagine," chattered Miss Lamb.

"What are we going to do about it?" bawled Mrs. Chipmunk.

"Appoint a committee?" yammered Miss Lamb, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chipmunk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," swore Miss Lamb doubtfully, 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. Chipmunk cleverly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," prattled Miss Lamb thankfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and pacing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chipmunk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mrs. Chipmunk reluctantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Lamb thought she had answered, and was beginning to get puzzled. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Chipmunk doing these days?"

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

Miss Lamb sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied needlessly.