Miss Otter And The New Neighbor

Miss Otter lived in a gully in a stinky shack made of pine logs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ramen noodles, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asked Miss Otter speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," mouthed Mister Beetle. I just want to ask you what you think of the rabbit that's come to the gully.

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

"Well don't be so sure," belched Mister Beetle suddenly. "I heard that this rabbit likes to strike pairs of dice."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Beetle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of rabbits striking pairs of dice?"

"I can't imagine," chimed Miss Otter.

"What are we going to do about it?" appealed Mister Beetle.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shuddered Miss Otter happily, 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 Beetle anxiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," uttered Miss Otter cleverly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the gully and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Beetle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fantasized Mister Beetle bravely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Otter sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied frantically.