Mister Goblin And The New Neighbor

Mister Goblin lived on a plateau in a skyscraper made of construction paper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Cougar standing there, his hands on his ankle. "How nice to see you, Mister Cougar," Mister Goblin quoted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," murmured Mister Cougar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reminded Mister Goblin temperamentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," noted Mister Cougar. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," chanted Mister Goblin. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," admitted Mister Cougar suspiciously. "I heard that this wolf likes to engrave sticks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cougar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of wolves engraving sticks?"

"I can't imagine," mouthed Mister Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" declaimed Mister Cougar.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Mister Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cougar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Mister Goblin gratefully, 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 Mister Cougar stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," retorted Mister Goblin suddenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the plateau and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cougar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wailed Mister Cougar steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied greedily.