Miss Badger And The New Neighbor

Miss Badger lived in a lagoon in a chalet made of linoleum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Banana slug standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Banana slug," Miss Badger hollered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wailed Mrs. Banana slug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" accused Miss Badger again, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," interpreted Mrs. Banana slug. I just want to ask you what you think of the salamander that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," offered Miss Badger. "I didn't know about any salamander. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," queried Mrs. Banana slug confidently. "I heard that this salamander likes to touch tablet computers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Banana slug, 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 salamanders touching tablet computers?"

"I can't imagine," invited Miss Badger.

"What are we going to do about it?" gasped Mrs. Banana slug.

"Appoint a committee?" roared Miss Badger, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Banana slug had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Banana slug sleepily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," vowed Miss Badger quietly, 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. Banana slug temperamentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whined Miss Badger surreptitiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the lagoon and looking angry. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Banana slug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mrs. Banana slug narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Badger sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied slowly.