Miss Hippopotamus And The New Neighbor

Miss Hippopotamus lived on a butte in a closet made of sewage. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gorilla standing there, his hands on his wrist. "How nice to see you, Mister Gorilla," Miss Hippopotamus quavered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mister Gorilla. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Miss Hippopotamus sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," groaned Mister Gorilla. I just want to ask you what you think of the jackal that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," urged Miss Hippopotamus. "I didn't know about any jackal. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mister Gorilla uselessly. "I heard that this jackal likes to hook cookies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gorilla, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of jackals hooking cookies?"

"I can't imagine," squealed Miss Hippopotamus.

"What are we going to do about it?" shrieked Mister Gorilla.

"Appoint a committee?" burbled Miss Hippopotamus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gorilla had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," reminded Miss Hippopotamus strictly, 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 Gorilla nimbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Miss Hippopotamus slyly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the butte and begging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gorilla. Do come again."

"Just a minute," implored Mister Gorilla lovingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hippopotamus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unexpectedly.