Mister Banana Slug And The New Neighbor

Mister Banana slug lived in a lagoon in a skyscraper made of tempered steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Manatee standing there, her hands on her Adam's apple. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Manatee," Mister Banana slug accused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mrs. Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interpreted Mister Banana slug slowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," stammered Mrs. Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the raven that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," analyzed Mister Banana slug. "I didn't know about any raven. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," contended Mrs. Manatee demurely. "I heard that this raven likes to consider yardsticks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," gabbed Mister Banana slug, 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 lagoon when we get a lot of ravens considering yardsticks?"

"I can't imagine," spoke up Mister Banana slug.

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

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Mister Banana slug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Manatee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," analyzed Mister Banana slug valiantly, 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. Manatee sleepily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Banana slug strictly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on his front porch, looking out over the lagoon and puffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Manatee. Do come again."

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

Mister Banana slug thought he had answered, and was beginning to get fashionable. "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?"

Mister Banana slug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fondly.