Miss Anteater And The New Neighbor

Miss Anteater lived on a path in a tent made of spandex. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Doberman standing there, her hands on her scalp. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Doberman," Miss Anteater squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," trumpeted Mrs. Doberman. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" concluded Miss Anteater wearily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chocolate milk?"

"I can't stay," decided Mrs. Doberman. I just want to ask you what you think of the dog that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," piped up Miss Anteater. "I didn't know about any dog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," intoned Mrs. Doberman gently. "I heard that this dog likes to fry dead banana slugs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Doberman, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of dogs frying dead banana slugs?"

"I can't imagine," grieved Miss Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mrs. Doberman.

"Appoint a committee?" avowed Miss Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Doberman had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Miss Anteater gleefully, 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 Mrs. Doberman suspiciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quavered Miss Anteater warmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on her front porch, looking out over the path and coming over. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Doberman. Do come again."

"Just a minute," worried Mrs. Doberman strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied repeatedly.