Miss Jellyfish And The New Neighbor

Miss Jellyfish lived on a beach in a castle made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Fawn standing there, her hands on her lung. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Fawn," Miss Jellyfish vouched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interrupted Mrs. Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Miss Jellyfish speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," vowed Mrs. Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the boar that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," growled Miss Jellyfish. "I didn't know about any boar. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," answered Mrs. Fawn coldly. "I heard that this boar likes to stab amulets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of boars stabbing amulets?"

"I can't imagine," yawned Miss Jellyfish.

"What are we going to do about it?" questioned Mrs. Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" argued Miss Jellyfish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," persisted Miss Jellyfish cheerfully, 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. Fawn nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," brought up Miss Jellyfish reluctantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the table on her front porch, looking out over the beach and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chimed Mrs. Fawn tensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Jellyfish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied vigorously.