It was a raucous and ultimately jubilant night at APP headquarters in Chicago as Chongo Chimp conceded defeat in his courageous run for the presidency and congratulated Barack Obama on his historic victory. The APP's failure to take the presidency came as no surprise to most of Chongo's supporters who knew it was the ultimate long shot from the start to place a chimp in the White House (the George Bush record notwithstanding), but many took pride in what has been achieved over the past year by Chongo's campaign.

Chongo was gracious in defeat, promising to do everything he can to assist the incoming Obama administration, although Chongo says he is "getting out of politics now and gettin' back to his regular gumshoe job ASAP".

"Let others take up the torch," said Chongo, to the cheers and hoots of several thousand totally pumped apes, monkeys, and a sprinkling of humans packed into the Banana Building, as it has been popularly named in recent weeks.

"You all knew this was just the beginning. We was breakin' new ground where none had gone before and you should all be proud of what you done. Now apes and monkeys can walk side by side with humans of every color and creed, with White humans, Black humans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian-Americans, and we can all join hands together as partners to build a new America, an America based on hope, friendship, and shared respect, an America which celebrates the differences between us and recognizes that the things we all share in common are so much greater than those differences. This is the beginning of a brand new day, my friends. We should not be sad because things didn't go all our way on this election day, we should be very glad that progress has been made, very proud of what we have accomplished as brothers and sisters in common cause, and I wanta say right now that we should all give Barack Obama and his new administration every ounce of goodwill we got and work together with him to put this country back on the road to recovery. Let me join Mr Obama in saying 'YES WE CAN! and more than that YES WE WILL!!! Kree-gah, America! Change has finally come!!!"

****

"You're really happy about this, aren't you, Chongo?" said Renata, her eyes shining with an unfathomable mixture of emotions both happy and sad.

"Yes, I am, Renata" replied Chongo. "I feel a sense of relief I can't even find the words for, and I am glad Obama won it. Man, I would not want that job, Renata, the job of president. No way. I ain't ready to bear that cross. I just wanta go back to my little office and start workin' on some cases like usual and help you out some with the Primate-Human Friendship Center, and leave it at that. But here's the thing. I hadda start the ball rollin' on primate political action. Somebody hadda do it. Black people had their struggle for equality back in the 50's and 60's and from there right up till now, and they been vindicated, and now we got ours. I hadda do my part to start things rolling, and now it's done. The younger folks can take it from here. There are some pretty smart young chimps out there...and gorillas...even some baboons that frankly surprise me. We ain't seen nothin' yet."