Miss Mink And The New Neighbor

Miss Mink lived alongside a stream in a tent made of linoleum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when she heard a knock at the door.

She ambled 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 back. "How nice to see you, Mister Sloth," Miss Mink raved, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," invited Mister Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Miss Mink confidently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," explained Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the sheep that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," begged Miss Mink. "I didn't know about any sheep. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," simpered Mister Sloth needlessly. "I heard that this sheep likes to demolish curling irons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," muttered Miss Mink, 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 stream when we get a lot of sheep demolishing curling irons?"

"I can't imagine," interpreted Miss Mink.

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

"Appoint a committee?" drawled Miss Mink, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," persisted Miss Mink quickly, 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 thoughtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Mink cleverly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the stream and swearing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

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

Miss Mink thought she had answered, and was beginning to get careful. "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 Mink sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gleefully.