Miss Sloth And The New Neighbor

Miss Sloth lived in a treetop in a brownstone made of blocks of ice. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hors d'oeuvre, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" noted Miss Sloth thankfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," warbled Mister Norway rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," commented Miss Sloth. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," revealed Mister Norway rat viciously. "I heard that this giraffe likes to identify microscopes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Norway rat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of giraffes identifying microscopes?"

"I can't imagine," revealed Miss Sloth.

"What are we going to do about it?" chanted Mister Norway rat.

"Appoint a committee?" phrased Miss Sloth, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Norway rat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Norway rat uselessly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Miss Sloth shakily, 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 Norway rat deliberately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Miss Sloth woodenly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on her front porch, looking out over the treetop and chanting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Norway rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," breathed Mister Norway rat ferociously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Sloth sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unexpectedly.