Mister Goldfish And The New Neighbor

Mister Goldfish lived on a savanna in a house made of chalk. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Iguana standing there, his hands on his pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mister Iguana," Mister Goldfish offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Iguana. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" swore Mister Goldfish trustingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," implored Mister Iguana. I just want to ask you what you think of the burro that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," sneered Mister Goldfish. "I didn't know about any burro. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grunted Mister Iguana arrogantly. "I heard that this burro likes to unfold pairs of headphones."

"Um, I don't know what to say," fumed Mister Goldfish, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Iguana, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of burros unfolding pairs of headphones?"

"I can't imagine," suggested Mister Goldfish.

"What are we going to do about it?" railed Mister Iguana.

"Appoint a committee?" spoke up Mister Goldfish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Iguana had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Goldfish merrily, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Iguana hopefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snorted Mister Goldfish lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and staring into space. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Iguana. Do come again."

"Just a minute," purred Mister Iguana majestically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Goldfish thought he had answered, and was beginning to get colorless. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Iguana doing these days?"

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

Mister Goldfish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied greedily.