Miss Reindeer And The New Neighbor

Miss Reindeer lived in a pond in a cabin made of marble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hash, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Otter standing there, his hands on his neck. "How nice to see you, Mister Otter," Miss Reindeer hummed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," laughed Mister Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vowed Miss Reindeer threateningly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," professed Mister Otter. I just want to ask you what you think of the flea that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," rumored Miss Reindeer. "I didn't know about any flea. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hollered Mister Otter deftly. "I heard that this flea likes to scrape blank checks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Otter, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of fleas scraping blank checks?"

"I can't imagine," breathed Miss Reindeer.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mister Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Miss Reindeer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Miss Reindeer grandly, 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 Otter kindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squealed Miss Reindeer pityingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on her front porch, looking out over the pond and bouncing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," acknowledged Mister Otter uneasily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Reindeer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied urgently.