Miss Goldfish And The New Neighbor

Miss Goldfish lived in a neighborhood in a sod house made of cotton. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Lemur standing there, her hands on her gut. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lemur," Miss Goldfish commented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," croaked Mrs. Lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asked Miss Goldfish boldly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mrs. Lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the hyena that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," mouthed Miss Goldfish. "I didn't know about any hyena. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mrs. Lemur delicately. "I heard that this hyena likes to bless pillows."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lemur, 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 hyenas blessing pillows?"

"I can't imagine," purred Miss Goldfish.

"What are we going to do about it?" warbled Mrs. Lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" yowled Miss Goldfish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lemur had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fumed Miss Goldfish woefully, 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. Lemur immediately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," said Miss Goldfish fondly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and treading water. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," argued Mrs. Lemur lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goldfish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gracefully.