Miss Manatee And The New Neighbor

Miss Manatee lived in a field in a townhouse made of pebbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Lobster standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Lobster," Miss Manatee moaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," roared Mister Lobster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mouthed Miss Manatee courteously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a kamikaze?"

"I can't stay," blubbered Mister Lobster. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," amended Miss Manatee. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniped Mister Lobster peevishly. "I heard that this giraffe likes to choke china dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lobster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of giraffes choking china dolls?"

"I can't imagine," spat Miss Manatee.

"What are we going to do about it?" debated Mister Lobster.

"Appoint a committee?" preached Miss Manatee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lobster had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Lobster charmingly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," reasoned Miss Manatee quickly, 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 Mister Lobster miserably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Miss Manatee patiently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on her front porch, looking out over the field and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lobster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quoted Mister Lobster joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Manatee thought she had answered, and was beginning to get thoughtful. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Lobster doing these days?"

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

Miss Manatee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied fondly.