Miss Monkey And The New Neighbor

Miss Monkey lived in a swamp in an apartment made of foam. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hog standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Hog," Miss Monkey persisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," contended Mister Hog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sobbed Miss Monkey peevishly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," recited Mister Hog. I just want to ask you what you think of the gnu that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," suggested Miss Monkey. "I didn't know about any gnu. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," concluded Mister Hog repeatedly. "I heard that this gnu likes to break urns."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of gnus breaking urns?"

"I can't imagine," quoted Miss Monkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mister Hog.

"Appoint a committee?" sighed Miss Monkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Miss Monkey carefully, 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 Mister Hog quickly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Miss Monkey blissfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and blushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hollered Mister Hog humbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Monkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied kindly.