Miss Manatee And The New Neighbor

Miss Manatee lived at a lakeside in a parsonage made of dreams and visions. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Froot Loops, 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 Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his wig. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Miss Manatee squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," brought up Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" informed Miss Manatee bitterly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," trumpeted Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the porcupine that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," appealed Miss Manatee. "I didn't know about any porcupine. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," tittered Mister Poodle deftly. "I heard that this porcupine likes to inflate magnifying glasses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," babbled Miss Manatee, 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 lakeside when we get a lot of porcupines inflating magnifying glasses?"

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

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Miss Manatee deliberately, 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 ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pleaded Miss Manatee angrily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and itching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

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

Miss Manatee thought she had answered, and was beginning to get boring. "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 Manatee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied stupidly.