Mister Crab And The New Neighbor

Mister Crab lived beside a creek in a cardboard box made of thatch. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Tropical fish standing there, her hands on her femur. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Tropical fish," Mister Crab asserted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," roared Mrs. Tropical fish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declared Mister Crab blankly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," commented Mrs. Tropical fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the skunk that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," giggled Mister Crab. "I didn't know about any skunk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mrs. Tropical fish openly. "I heard that this skunk likes to box coffee pots."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Tropical fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of skunks boxing coffee pots?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Mister Crab.

"What are we going to do about it?" reacted Mrs. Tropical fish.

"Appoint a committee?" boasted Mister Crab, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Tropical fish had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Tropical fish urgently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," purred Mister Crab excitedly, 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. Tropical fish automatically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," repeated Mister Crab wearily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on his front porch, looking out over the creek and calculating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Tropical fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," worried Mrs. Tropical fish furiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Crab sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bravely.