Miss Sloth And The New Neighbor

Miss Sloth lived on a mountain in a townhouse made of jewels. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Antelope standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Antelope," Miss Sloth voiced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," barked Mrs. Antelope. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Miss Sloth deftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," nattered Mrs. Antelope. I just want to ask you what you think of the rhinoceros that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," phrased Miss Sloth. "I didn't know about any rhinoceros. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," retorted Mrs. Antelope smoothly. "I heard that this rhinoceros likes to touch cactus plants."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Antelope, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of rhinoceroses touching cactus plants?"

"I can't imagine," interrupted Miss Sloth.

"What are we going to do about it?" conversed Mrs. Antelope.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Miss Sloth, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Antelope had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," griped Miss Sloth nonchalantly, 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 Mrs. Antelope curiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," laughed Miss Sloth noisily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Antelope. Do come again."

"Just a minute," noted Mrs. Antelope joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Sloth sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied joyously.