Miss Manatee And The New Neighbor

Miss Manatee lived in a canyon in a manor house made of flax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ghost standing there, his hands on his belly button. "How nice to see you, Mister Ghost," Miss Manatee retorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whispered Mister Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Miss Manatee patiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," snorted Mister Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the ring-tailed lemur that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," sobbed Miss Manatee. "I didn't know about any ring-tailed lemur. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grieved Mister Ghost again. "I heard that this ring-tailed lemur likes to condemn toilet seats."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of ring-tailed lemurs condemning toilet seats?"

"I can't imagine," prattled Miss Manatee.

"What are we going to do about it?" pointed out Mister Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" jeered Miss Manatee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squealed Miss Manatee wryly, 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 Ghost bravely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," conversed Miss Manatee charmingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and coming along. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," judged Mister Ghost admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Manatee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lazily.