Mister Manatee And The New Neighbor

Mister Manatee lived on a tundra in a mansion made of rubber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Raccoon standing there, her hands on her spinal cord. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Raccoon," Mister Manatee exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vowed Mrs. Raccoon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Mister Manatee courteously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," stated Mrs. Raccoon. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the tundra.

"I really don't know," responded Mister Manatee. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blubbered Mrs. Raccoon courteously. "I heard that this troll likes to shorten tops."

"Um, I don't know what to say," phrased Mister Manatee, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Raccoon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the tundra when we get a lot of trolls shortening tops?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Mister Manatee.

"What are we going to do about it?" stammered Mrs. Raccoon.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Manatee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Raccoon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cajoled Mister Manatee excitedly, 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. Raccoon quickly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Mister Manatee hopefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the tundra and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Raccoon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," indicated Mrs. Raccoon roughly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Manatee thought he had answered, and was beginning to get sober. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Raccoon doing these days?"

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

Mister Manatee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carefully.