Miss Troll And The New Neighbor

Miss Troll lived at a lakeside in a motor home made of marble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Sloth standing there, his hands on his pinky. "How nice to see you, Mister Sloth," Miss Troll fretted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wailed Mister Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" retorted Miss Troll diligently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a shot of bourbon?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the butterfly that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," responded Miss Troll. "I didn't know about any butterfly. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mister Sloth gratefully. "I heard that this butterfly likes to propel bottles of painkillers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of butterflies propelling bottles of painkillers?"

"I can't imagine," exploded Miss Troll.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mister Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" spoke up Miss Troll, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Miss Troll coldly, 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 Sloth lovingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hollered Miss Troll nicely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and looking puzzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," worried Mister Sloth admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Troll sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied flightily.