Mister Badger And The New Neighbor

Mister Badger lived in a treetop in a loft made of oil and water. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ravioli, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Manatee standing there, her hands on her shin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Manatee," Mister Badger rebutted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," maintained Mrs. Manatee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intoned Mister Badger firmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mrs. Manatee. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," imitated Mister Badger. "I didn't know about any doggie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mrs. Manatee surreptitiously. "I heard that this doggie likes to stain spoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Manatee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of doggies staining spoons?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Mister Badger.

"What are we going to do about it?" blubbered Mrs. Manatee.

"Appoint a committee?" amended Mister Badger, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Manatee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Mister Badger lightly, 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 Mrs. Manatee valiantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Mister Badger gracefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Manatee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," concluded Mrs. Manatee arrogantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Badger sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied courteously.