Miss Sloth And The New Neighbor

Miss Sloth lived on a mesa in a hotel made of cement. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Worm standing there, her hands on her nostril. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Worm," Miss Sloth responded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," winked Mrs. Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Miss Sloth queerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a can of Ensure?"

"I can't stay," fretted Mrs. Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolverine that's come to the mesa.

"I really don't know," fretted Miss Sloth. "I didn't know about any wolverine. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chortled Mrs. Worm ferociously. "I heard that this wolverine likes to remove clothespins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mesa when we get a lot of wolverines removing clothespins?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" uttered Mrs. Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" barked Miss Sloth, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," noted Miss Sloth angrily, 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. Worm carefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," howled Miss Sloth dolorously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on her front porch, looking out over the mesa and wobbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yelled Mrs. Worm shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Worm 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 coolly.