Miss Aardvark And The New Neighbor

Miss Aardvark lived on a mountain in a closet made of silver. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover falafel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Mink standing there, his hands on his kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mister Mink," Miss Aardvark stuttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boomed Mister Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Miss Aardvark blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," debated Mister Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the otter that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," gasped Miss Aardvark. "I didn't know about any otter. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mister Mink peevishly. "I heard that this otter likes to scrub pinwheels."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mink, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of otters scrubbing pinwheels?"

"I can't imagine," chuckled Miss Aardvark.

"What are we going to do about it?" rambled Mister Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" rationalized Miss Aardvark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mink had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," uttered Miss Aardvark deliberately, 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 Mink strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," piped up Miss Aardvark carefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and itching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mink. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mister Mink cruelly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Aardvark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courageously.