Flo Flo the Fennec Fox dove behind the nearest desert rock. She'd wandered too close to the big, flat path. Another human flying machine had zoomed past her.

     She looked at the setting sun just above the horizon and wondered what was going on in the nearby North African town. It seemed too late for one of their flying machines to be landing in Chebbi.

     Flo Flo scurried over the rocky ground until she came to the landing field. She saw the flying machine in the distance parked near the red-clay building. It was too far for her to see any living thing. She knew not to get near humans, because they could be trouble.

     Flo Flo hurried away and continued her evening hunt for food. She slowed down, stretched her long ears, and listened for the sounds of bugs crawling in their underground burrows.

     Hearing one, her sharp claws quickly dug through the hard dirt. Catching a glimpse of a darting insect, she scooped it up.

     "Yuuuuuumeeeeee! I love bugs."

     Flo Flo continued to hunt. As time passed, her zigzagging brought her back at the edge of the landing field.

     "Pardon me, Miss Pointy-Ears."

     Flo Flo spun around and faced a brown, hairy creature leaning against a small boulder. Little fingers dangled at the ends of its hands. A long tail sprouted behind its short legs. Perched on the lower half of its round head spread a flat nose. The mouth turned up in a smile showing off its tiny teeth.

     "Hi," the creature said. "I'm Mango the Monkey. I flew here in a machine with my human."

     Flo Flo cocked her head and stiffened her ears. "A monkey? I've heard of monkeys, but I've never seen one."

     Mango pushed off the boulder and walked toward Flo Flo. "Monkeys are the best animals in the world." He walked around Flo Flo once. "Not like you. Why, look at you. You're so tiny for a … for a …." He stopped and scratched his head. "Are you a dog?"

     Flo Flo backed up a step and sat. "I'm Flo Flo, and I'm a Fennec Fox."

     Mango smacked his forehead. "You're a fox?" He threw his hands out to either side as far as they would go. "But foxes are big … bigger than me." He moved his hands toward one another until they were inches apart. "You're a little runt."

     Flo Flo stood on all fours. "Hey, don't be so rude. I happen to be the smallest fox in the world. But I'm still a fox."

     Mango stepped closer and poked her forehead. "You're inferior, that's what you are … an inferior species."

     Flo Flo backed away. "Hey, don't you know it's bad manners to touch others!" She shook her head. "And what do you mean by inferior species?"

     Mango folded his arms and laughed. "Species means the kind of animal you are." He pointed to his chest. "I'm a Rhesus Monkey." He stuck out his chin and cocked his head from side to side. "Quite superior and quite the opposite of inferior."

     Flo Flo flattened her lips and squinted. "I don't know what's superior and inferior. I do know you're just plain rude."

     He pointed at her. "Fennec Foxes are inferior. That means they're not as good as other species." He pointed to himself. "Not like Rhesus Monkeys. They're superior to every other species."

     "What's wrong with me?" Flo Flo asked.

     Mango jumped up and down pointing at her head. "Those ears … they're so big and ugly."

     Flo Flo strolled past him. "Nonsense. My ears are just right for where I live."

     Mango followed her and threw his arms out wide. "And just look where you live. Why, there's nothing here but rocks, sand, and dirt. Nothing's green. Nothing's wet. Everything's as dry as a dried up old bone."

     Flo Flo stopped and turned to Mango. "Well, it suits me just fine."

     Mango stopped and shrugged. "Ugly. That's the only word for it."

     Flo Flo stepped toward him. "Look, if you don't like my home, then go back to your human and fly somewhere else. Now, don't bother me. I'm nocturnal and it's time for me to hunt for food."

     Mango scratched his head again. "Nocturnal?"

     Flo Flo sneered and walked away.