Miss Troll And The New Neighbor

Miss Troll lived in a garden in a mud hut made of noodles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his kidney. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Miss Troll realized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declared Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rumored Miss Troll recklessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," interrupted Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the goblin that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," observed Miss Troll. "I didn't know about any goblin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," responded Mister Poodle frenetically. "I heard that this goblin likes to shrink model airplanes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of goblins shrinking model airplanes?"

"I can't imagine," disputed Miss Troll.

"What are we going to do about it?" avowed Mister Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" laughed Miss Troll, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," roared Miss Troll awkwardly, 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 Poodle shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Miss Troll charmingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the garden and burbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hissed Mister Poodle smoothly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Troll sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ferociously.