Mister Jellyfish And The New Neighbor

Mister Jellyfish lived in a garden in a loft made of Saran Wrap. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chopped liver, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Burro standing there, her hands on her adrenal gland. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Burro," Mister Jellyfish questioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whimpered Mrs. Burro. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boomed Mister Jellyfish ruefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of fruit punch?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mrs. Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the horse that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," spewed Mister Jellyfish. "I didn't know about any horse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mrs. Burro merrily. "I heard that this horse likes to spin rags."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Burro, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of horses spinning rags?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Mister Jellyfish.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mrs. Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Jellyfish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asked Mister Jellyfish victoriously, 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. Burro madly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rumored Mister Jellyfish warmly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the garden and getting along. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Burro. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spewed Mrs. Burro solemnly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Jellyfish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brightly.