Miss Shark And The New Neighbor

Miss Shark lived in a neighborhood in a cottage made of Tyvek. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, 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 Mrs. Unicorn standing there, her hands on her funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Unicorn," Miss Shark barked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," suggested Mrs. Unicorn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chattered Miss Shark sourly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," repeated Mrs. Unicorn. I just want to ask you what you think of the manticore that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," asked Miss Shark. "I didn't know about any manticore. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," emphasized Mrs. Unicorn perkily. "I heard that this manticore likes to pick peace pipes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Unicorn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of manticores picking peace pipes?"

"I can't imagine," sniveled Miss Shark.

"What are we going to do about it?" avowed Mrs. Unicorn.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Miss Shark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Unicorn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," questioned Miss Shark impatiently, 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. Unicorn victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Miss Shark gruffly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and howling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Unicorn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," appealed Mrs. Unicorn hopelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Shark 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 Mister Unicorn doing these days?"

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

Miss Shark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied coolly.