Miss Banana Slug And The New Neighbor

Miss Banana slug lived in a rainforest in a quonset hut made of stainless steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jaguar standing there, her hands on her big toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jaguar," Miss Banana slug yowled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," analyzed Mrs. Jaguar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Miss Banana slug sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," asked Mrs. Jaguar. I just want to ask you what you think of the mule that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," pronounced Miss Banana slug. "I didn't know about any mule. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reacted Mrs. Jaguar wildly. "I heard that this mule likes to gold plate magnets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," maintained Miss Banana slug, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jaguar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of mules gold plating magnets?"

"I can't imagine," rumored Miss Banana slug.

"What are we going to do about it?" hinted Mrs. Jaguar.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," maintained Miss Banana slug dreamily, 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. Jaguar steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," provoked Miss Banana slug testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jaguar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mrs. Jaguar narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Banana slug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied haughtily.