Miss Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Miss Brine shrimp lived alongside a stream in a castle made of Formica. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hedgehog standing there, his hands on his vein. "How nice to see you, Mister Hedgehog," Miss Brine shrimp lamented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cajoled Mister Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intoned Miss Brine shrimp awkwardly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," admitted Mister Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," raved Miss Brine shrimp. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," growled Mister Hedgehog fervently. "I heard that this troll likes to monitor diagrams."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spat Miss Brine shrimp, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of trolls monitoring diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," asserted Miss Brine shrimp.

"What are we going to do about it?" railed Mister Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Miss Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hedgehog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Hedgehog cheerfully. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," cried Miss Brine shrimp 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 Mister Hedgehog kindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pronounced Miss Brine shrimp charmingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on her front porch, looking out over the stream and wiggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," called Mister Hedgehog patiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Brine shrimp thought she had answered, and was beginning to get heavyset. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Hedgehog doing these days?"

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

Miss Brine shrimp sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied effortlessly.