Miss Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Fish lived in a desert in a villa made of lumber. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ferret standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ferret," Miss Fish inquired, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fretted Mrs. Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" prattled Miss Fish fiercely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," analyzed Mrs. Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the pig that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," sighed Miss Fish. "I didn't know about any pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," explained Mrs. Ferret slowly. "I heard that this pig likes to select brushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ferret, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of pigs selecting brushes?"

"I can't imagine," explained Miss Fish.

"What are we going to do about it?" gabbed Mrs. Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" intimated Miss Fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ferret had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rationalized Miss Fish speedily, 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. Ferret innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whispered Miss Fish kindly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the desert and vomiting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," invited Mrs. Ferret hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warmly.