Miss Crab And The New Neighbor

Miss Crab lived on a range in a chalet made of moss. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Miss Crab slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," reacted Mrs. Fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the zebra that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," asserted Miss Crab. "I didn't know about any zebra. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chattered Mrs. Fish merrily. "I heard that this zebra likes to swat statues."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of zebras swatting statues?"

"I can't imagine," quavered Miss Crab.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mrs. Fish.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Miss Crab majestically, 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. Fish testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniped Miss Crab dreamily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on her front porch, looking out over the range and clattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," growled Mrs. Fish proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Crab sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied properly.