Mister Troll And The New Neighbor

Mister Troll lived in a pond in a Victorian mansion made of ribbons. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Duck standing there, his hands on his midriff. "How nice to see you, Mister Duck," Mister Troll debated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mister Duck. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smirked Mister Troll defiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a can of Ensure?"

"I can't stay," yelled Mister Duck. I just want to ask you what you think of the bat that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," thought Mister Troll. "I didn't know about any bat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reasoned Mister Duck angrily. "I heard that this bat likes to shoot basketballs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Duck, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of bats shooting basketballs?"

"I can't imagine," nattered Mister Troll.

"What are we going to do about it?" hollered Mister Duck.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Mister Troll, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Duck had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Mister Troll offhandedly, 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 Mister Duck flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," avowed Mister Troll nervously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the pond and swaying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Duck. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vouched Mister Duck sourly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Troll sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sharply.