Mister Yeti And The New Neighbor

Mister Yeti lived on a veld in an igloo made of silver. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, 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 Goldfish standing there, his hands on his foot. "How nice to see you, Mister Goldfish," Mister Yeti snarled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mister Goldfish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" worried Mister Yeti truculently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," swore Mister Goldfish. I just want to ask you what you think of the alligator that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," intimated Mister Yeti. "I didn't know about any alligator. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," offered Mister Goldfish perkily. "I heard that this alligator likes to submerse toolboxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goldfish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of alligators submersing toolboxes?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Mister Yeti.

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

"Appoint a committee?" realized Mister Yeti, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goldfish had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," demanded Mister Yeti numbly, 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 Goldfish effortlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Mister Yeti needlessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the veld and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goldfish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," offered Mister Goldfish strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yeti sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied testily.