Mister Otter And The New Neighbor

Mister Otter lived in a desert in a mud hut made of thatch. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hash, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Grizzly bear standing there, his hands on his belly button. "How nice to see you, Mister Grizzly bear," Mister Otter said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blurted Mister Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" questioned Mister Otter properly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," cackled Mister Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the raccoon that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," pleaded Mister Otter. "I didn't know about any raccoon. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," tittered Mister Grizzly bear unnaturally. "I heard that this raccoon likes to banish cigarette lighters."

"Um, I don't know what to say," uttered Mister Otter, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Grizzly bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of raccoons banishing cigarette lighters?"

"I can't imagine," begged Mister Otter.

"What are we going to do about it?" yawned Mister Grizzly bear.

"Appoint a committee?" bawled Mister Otter, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Grizzly bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Grizzly bear ferociously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," inquired Mister Otter truculently, 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 Mister Grizzly bear shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," commented Mister Otter awkwardly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the desert and yelling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Grizzly bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bragged Mister Grizzly bear valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Otter thought he had answered, and was beginning to get peculiar. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Grizzly bear doing these days?"

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

Mister Otter sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied daintily.