Mister Manatee And The New Neighbor

Mister Manatee lived in a neighborhood in a hut made of pine logs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Goat standing there, her hands on her dignity. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Goat," Mister Manatee boasted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," maintained Mrs. Goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" harangued Mister Manatee elatedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mrs. Goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," mused Mister Manatee. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," analyzed Mrs. Goat brightly. "I heard that this donkey likes to stack iPhones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of donkeys stacking iPhones?"

"I can't imagine," hinted Mister Manatee.

"What are we going to do about it?" remarked Mrs. Goat.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mused Mister Manatee lovingly, 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. Goat dolorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smiled Mister Manatee sarcastically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the filing cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and sneezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," divulged Mrs. Goat primly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Manatee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied thoughtfully.