Miss Banana Slug And The New Neighbor

Miss Banana slug lived in a gulch in a sand castle made of precious gems. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bison standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Bison," Miss Banana slug queried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," insisted Mister Bison. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Miss Banana slug craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," cackled Mister Bison. I just want to ask you what you think of the swan that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," observed Miss Banana slug. "I didn't know about any swan. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whined Mister Bison pityingly. "I heard that this swan likes to bless bedpans."

"Um, I don't know what to say," gasped Miss Banana slug, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Bison, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of swans blessing bedpans?"

"I can't imagine," remarked Miss Banana slug.

"What are we going to do about it?" roared Mister Bison.

"Appoint a committee?" simpered Miss Banana slug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bison had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," warbled Miss Banana slug unabashedly, 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 Bison brashly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Miss Banana slug awkwardly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and coughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bison. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whimpered Mister Bison despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Banana slug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied neatly.