Mister Otter And The New Neighbor

Mister Otter lived in a desert in a hut made of enamel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mulligan stew, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hissed Mister Otter majestically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," giggled Mrs. Eel. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," roared Mister Otter. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," tittered Mrs. Eel bitterly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to scratch flash drives."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of bumblebees scratching flash drives?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" said Mrs. Eel.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," lamented Mister Otter recklessly, 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. Eel obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," emphasized Mister Otter demurely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the desert and snarling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," added Mrs. Eel anxiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Eel 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 sternly.