Miss Dolphin And The New Neighbor

Miss Dolphin lived on a ridge in a sod house made of old tires. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Whale standing there, her hands on her tongue. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Miss Dolphin screamed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boomed Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quavered Miss Dolphin daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," screamed Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," squeaked Miss Dolphin. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pleaded Mrs. Whale temperamentally. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to kiss dog biscuits."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of Pekingeses kissing dog biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," brought up Miss Dolphin.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mrs. Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" vouched Miss Dolphin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," announced Miss Dolphin diligently, 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. Whale surreptitiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Miss Dolphin cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and gazing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," voiced Mrs. Whale numbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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