Miss Dinosaur And The New Neighbor

Miss Dinosaur lived on a trail in a chateau made of plywood. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ramen noodles, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Manatee standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Manatee," Miss Dinosaur blathered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whispered Mrs. Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whined Miss Dinosaur impatiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mai Tai?"

"I can't stay," invited Mrs. Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," alleged Miss Dinosaur. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Manatee arrogantly. "I heard that this wolf likes to stack pictures."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Manatee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of wolves stacking pictures?"

"I can't imagine," intoned Miss Dinosaur.

"What are we going to do about it?" enunciated Mrs. Manatee.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Miss Dinosaur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Manatee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Miss Dinosaur positively, 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. Manatee surreptitiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Miss Dinosaur glibly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the trail and sneering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Manatee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mrs. Manatee sagely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dinosaur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied irritably.