Mister Dolphin And The New Neighbor

Mister Dolphin lived on a path in a mud hut made of pillows. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Fox standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Fox," Mister Dolphin cackled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," contended Mrs. Fox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" burbled Mister Dolphin hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of rum?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mrs. Fox. I just want to ask you what you think of the lark that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," blubbered Mister Dolphin. "I didn't know about any lark. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," questioned Mrs. Fox properly. "I heard that this lark likes to decorate pearls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Fox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of larks decorating pearls?"

"I can't imagine," said Mister Dolphin.

"What are we going to do about it?" added Mrs. Fox.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Mister Dolphin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Fox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," queried Mister Dolphin oddly, 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. Fox bravely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," admitted Mister Dolphin calmly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the path and rocking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Fox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mrs. Fox properly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dolphin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sagely.