Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived in a gully in a trough made of leather. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Manticore standing there, her hands on her belly. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Manticore," Miss Tropical fish divulged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," recited Mrs. Manticore. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" scoffed Miss Tropical fish dolefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mrs. Manticore. I just want to ask you what you think of the nightingale that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," taunted Miss Tropical fish. "I didn't know about any nightingale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," complained Mrs. Manticore courageously. "I heard that this nightingale likes to soak photographs."

"Um, I don't know what to say," called Miss Tropical fish, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Manticore, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of nightingales soaking photographs?"

"I can't imagine," insisted Miss Tropical fish.

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mrs. Manticore.

"Appoint a committee?" sniffed Miss Tropical fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Manticore had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," affirmed Miss Tropical fish sympathetically, 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. Manticore vacantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," raved Miss Tropical fish excitedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on her front porch, looking out over the gully and squealing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Manticore. Do come again."

"Just a minute," observed Mrs. Manticore shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Tropical fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grudgingly.