Miss Goblin And The New Neighbor

Miss Goblin lived on a plain in a box made of spandex. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when she heard a knock at the door.

She stormed 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 kidney. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Miss Goblin answered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," warbled Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whispered Miss Goblin hastily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the plain.

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

"Well don't be so sure," proposed Mrs. Whale menacingly. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to study flashlights."

"Um, I don't know what to say," retorted Miss Goblin, 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 plain when we get a lot of hippopotami studying flashlights?"

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

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Miss Goblin threateningly, 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 gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," enunciated Miss Goblin madly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on her front porch, looking out over the plain and looking dumb. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

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

Miss Goblin thought she had answered, and was beginning to get tired. "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 Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied slowly.