Mister Mountain Goat And The New Neighbor

Mister Mountain goat lived in a forest in an office made of nuts and bolts. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Baboon standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Baboon," Mister Mountain goat sniveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asserted Mrs. Baboon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groaned Mister Mountain goat deliberately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," preached Mrs. Baboon. I just want to ask you what you think of the basset hound that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," comforted Mister Mountain goat. "I didn't know about any basset hound. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," clarified Mrs. Baboon sheepishly. "I heard that this basset hound likes to push African violets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," peeped Mister Mountain goat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Baboon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of basset hounds pushing African violets?"

"I can't imagine," bellowed Mister Mountain goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" called Mrs. Baboon.

"Appoint a committee?" debated Mister Mountain goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Baboon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Mister Mountain goat warmly, 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 Mrs. Baboon obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Mister Mountain goat accidentally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on his front porch, looking out over the forest and winking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Baboon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stuttered Mrs. Baboon dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Mountain goat thought he had answered, and was beginning to get self-confident. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Baboon doing these days?"

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

Mister Mountain goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied anxiously.