Miss Otter And The New Neighbor

Miss Otter lived in a pasture in a box made of alpaca hair. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Frog standing there, his hands on his big toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Frog," Miss Otter tittered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," simpered Mister Frog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" articulated Miss Otter elatedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," chanted Mister Frog. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," insisted Miss Otter. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interpreted Mister Frog crossly. "I heard that this horsie likes to prune chains."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Frog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of horsies pruning chains?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" said Mister Frog.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," moaned Miss Otter tenderly, 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 Frog greedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Miss Otter arrogantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and laughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Frog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," queried Mister Frog positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Frog 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 viciously.