Miss Troll And The New Neighbor

Miss Troll lived on a plateau in a motor home made of feathers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, 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 Lovebird standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Lovebird," Miss Troll mentioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," orated Mister Lovebird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Miss Troll uselessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," cried Mister Lovebird. I just want to ask you what you think of the otter that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," persisted Miss Troll. "I didn't know about any otter. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," giggled Mister Lovebird suavely. "I heard that this otter likes to stash sand blasters."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lovebird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of otters stashing sand blasters?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mister Lovebird.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," simpered Miss Troll fiercely, 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 Lovebird obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Miss Troll primly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the plateau and nodding off. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lovebird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," scoffed Mister Lovebird later. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Lovebird 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 sharply.