Miss Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Miss Muskrat lived in a jungle in a convent made of leaves and twigs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, 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 Mister Otter standing there, his hands on his elbow. "How nice to see you, Mister Otter," Miss Muskrat fumed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," guessed Mister Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Miss Muskrat despondently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of rum?"

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

"I really don't know," pleaded Miss Muskrat. "I didn't know about any ring-tailed lemur. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," began Mister Otter gratefully. "I heard that this ring-tailed lemur likes to describe potatoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Otter, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of ring-tailed lemurs describing potatoes?"

"I can't imagine," hollered Miss Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" explained Mister Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" insisted Miss Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," protested Miss Muskrat shakily, 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 Otter breathlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," raved Miss Muskrat clumsily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the jungle and clearing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," moaned Mister Otter hopelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Muskrat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied swiftly.