Miss Goblin And The New Neighbor

Miss Goblin lived in a buffalo wallow in a flat made of bones. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intoned Miss Goblin caustically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," uttered Mrs. Gorilla. I just want to ask you what you think of the tropical fish that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," offered Miss Goblin. "I didn't know about any tropical fish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shouted Mrs. Gorilla threateningly. "I heard that this tropical fish likes to understand tops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gorilla, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of tropical fish understanding tops?"

"I can't imagine," boasted Miss Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" insisted Mrs. Gorilla.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Miss Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gorilla had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pleaded Miss Goblin vacantly, 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. Gorilla smoothly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Miss Goblin brightly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and blowing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gorilla. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mrs. Gorilla carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crazily.