Miss Mink And The New Neighbor

Miss Mink lived on a cliff in a Cape Cod made of chalk. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Sloth standing there, his hands on his Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mister Sloth," Miss Mink amended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mister Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" indicated Miss Mink dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," opined Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the dingo that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," barked Miss Mink. "I didn't know about any dingo. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," concluded Mister Sloth coolly. "I heard that this dingo likes to deliver houseplants."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of dingoes delivering houseplants?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Miss Mink.

"What are we going to do about it?" quoted Mister Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" fantasized Miss Mink, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squealed Miss Mink fervently, 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 Sloth stupidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reacted Miss Mink narrowly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and apologizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mister Sloth tensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mink sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied awkwardly.