Mister Banana Slug And The New Neighbor

Mister Banana slug lived at an oasis in a bungalow made of dirt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ladybug standing there, her hands on her mouth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ladybug," Mister Banana slug snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," provoked Mrs. Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" complained Mister Banana slug nonchalantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," quavered Mrs. Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the louse that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," chanted Mister Banana slug. "I didn't know about any louse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mrs. Ladybug curiously. "I heard that this louse likes to distort Frisbees."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ladybug, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of lice distorting Frisbees?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Mister Banana slug.

"What are we going to do about it?" pleaded Mrs. Ladybug.

"Appoint a committee?" raved Mister Banana slug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ladybug had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," reacted Mister Banana slug carelessly, 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. Ladybug zestily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Mister Banana slug threateningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the oasis and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ladybug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mrs. Ladybug fondly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Banana slug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cautiously.