Miss Raccoon And The New Neighbor

Miss Raccoon lived beside a river in a cottage made of fur. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chocolate-covered ants, 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 Elk standing there, his hands on his aorta. "How nice to see you, Mister Elk," Miss Raccoon debated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mister Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" articulated Miss Raccoon energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mister Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the otter that's come to the river.

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

"Well don't be so sure," muttered Mister Elk steadily. "I heard that this otter likes to bake flowerpots."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of otters baking flowerpots?"

"I can't imagine," maintained Miss Raccoon.

"What are we going to do about it?" reacted Mister Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" piped up Miss Raccoon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Miss Raccoon elatedly, 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 Elk crankily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," affirmed Miss Raccoon patiently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the river and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mister Elk shakily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Raccoon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied noisily.