Miss Otter And The New Neighbor

Miss Otter lived in an arroyo in a manor house made of lace. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Llama standing there, her hands on her neck. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Llama," Miss Otter drawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mrs. Llama. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yawned Miss Otter steadily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," joked Mrs. Llama. I just want to ask you what you think of the chipmunk that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," provoked Miss Otter. "I didn't know about any chipmunk. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mrs. Llama ingeniously. "I heard that this chipmunk likes to rock bags of ice."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Llama, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of chipmunks rocking bags of ice?"

"I can't imagine," blurted Miss Otter.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mrs. Llama.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Miss Otter, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Llama had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Miss Otter crazily, 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. Llama stupidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," said Miss Otter curiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and snoring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Llama. Do come again."

"Just a minute," remarked Mrs. Llama courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Otter sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied tenderly.