Miss Troll And The New Neighbor

Miss Troll lived in a desert in a villa made of peanut butter. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

She sidled 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 tummy. "How nice to see you, Mister Lovebird," Miss Troll judged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," articulated Mister Lovebird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Miss Troll defiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of fruit punch?"

"I can't stay," commented Mister Lovebird. I just want to ask you what you think of the ferret that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," continued Miss Troll. "I didn't know about any ferret. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rebutted Mister Lovebird neatly. "I heard that this ferret likes to nuke crystal balls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," fantasized 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 desert when we get a lot of ferrets nuking crystal balls?"

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

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," divulged Miss Troll miserably, 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 sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

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

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

Miss Troll thought she had answered, and was beginning to get frantic. "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 gently.