Mister Whale And The New Neighbor

Mister Whale lived in a marsh in a chateau made of porcelain. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Penguin standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Penguin," Mister Whale simpered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," thought Mister Penguin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Whale sheepishly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," blubbered Mister Penguin. I just want to ask you what you think of the hamster that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," observed Mister Whale. "I didn't know about any hamster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cackled Mister Penguin slowly. "I heard that this hamster likes to shred cans of soup."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Penguin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of hamsters shredding cans of soup?"

"I can't imagine," whispered Mister Whale.

"What are we going to do about it?" whined Mister Penguin.

"Appoint a committee?" added Mister Whale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Penguin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shouted Mister Whale sagely, 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 Penguin reluctantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," explained Mister Whale happily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and breathing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Penguin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," alleged Mister Penguin steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Whale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied excitedly.