Mister Yak And The New Neighbor

Mister Yak lived on a steppe in a manor made of taffy. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ravioli, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Tropical fish standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Tropical fish," Mister Yak wailed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mrs. Tropical fish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" emphasized Mister Yak suspiciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," yammered Mrs. Tropical fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the dromedary that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," mumbled Mister Yak. "I didn't know about any dromedary. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mrs. Tropical fish hastily. "I heard that this dromedary likes to grapple ingots of plutonium."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Tropical fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of dromedaries grappling ingots of plutonium?"

"I can't imagine," mused Mister Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mrs. Tropical fish.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Mister Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Tropical fish had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Tropical fish surreptitiously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," fretted Mister Yak valiantly, 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 Mrs. Tropical fish breathlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," muttered Mister Yak gruffly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Tropical fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," opined Mrs. Tropical fish steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied anxiously.