Miss Ghost And The New Neighbor

Miss Ghost lived on a battlefield in a chapel made of rubble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hippopotamus standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Hippopotamus," Miss Ghost explained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," crooned Mister Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sobbed Miss Ghost recklessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," tittered Mister Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the dragon that's come to the battlefield.

"I really don't know," whined Miss Ghost. "I didn't know about any dragon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mister Hippopotamus frantically. "I heard that this dragon likes to swat duffel bags."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Miss Ghost, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the battlefield when we get a lot of dragons swatting duffel bags?"

"I can't imagine," chimed Miss Ghost.

"What are we going to do about it?" worried Mister Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" argued Miss Ghost, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hippopotamus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Hippopotamus nimbly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Miss Ghost fiercely, 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 Mister Hippopotamus angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," accused Miss Ghost sheepishly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on her front porch, looking out over the battlefield and snarling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mister Hippopotamus gratefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ghost sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warily.