Mister Goblin And The New Neighbor

Mister Goblin lived in a treetop in a church made of cotton. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Parrot standing there, her hands on her chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Parrot," Mister Goblin smiled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," alleged Mrs. Parrot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Mister Goblin anxiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," gasped Mrs. Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," taunted Mister Goblin. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rebutted Mrs. Parrot doubtfully. "I heard that this elephant likes to switch cans of soup."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Parrot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of elephants switching cans of soup?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" rebutted Mrs. Parrot.

"Appoint a committee?" hissed Mister Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Parrot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Mister Goblin swiftly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Parrot recklessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," begged Mister Goblin madly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and looking puzzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Parrot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," alleged Mrs. Parrot frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied craftily.