Mister Otter And The New Neighbor

Mister Otter lived in a country meadow in a skyscraper made of balsa. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Sloth standing there, her hands on her horn. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Sloth," Mister Otter reasoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," snarled Mrs. Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" offered Mister Otter crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," phrased Mrs. Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the hermit crab that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," responded Mister Otter. "I didn't know about any hermit crab. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bragged Mrs. Sloth viciously. "I heard that this hermit crab likes to fold Kindles."

"Um, I don't know what to say," quavered Mister Otter, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the country meadow when we get a lot of hermit crabs folding Kindles?"

"I can't imagine," called Mister Otter.

"What are we going to do about it?" stormed Mrs. Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Mister Otter, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rambled Mister Otter tearfully, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Sloth slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," admitted Mister Otter again, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the country meadow and shriveling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," judged Mrs. Sloth zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Otter sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied needlessly.