Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived in a buffalo wallow in a retreat made of chicken wire. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" roared Miss Tropical fish lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," fretted Mrs. Salamander. I just want to ask you what you think of the boa constrictor that's come to the buffalo wallow.

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

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mrs. Salamander anxiously. "I heard that this boa constrictor likes to grapple stuffed bunnies."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Salamander, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of boa constrictors grappling stuffed bunnies?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mrs. Salamander.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," disputed Miss Tropical fish primly, 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. Salamander strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," asked Miss Tropical fish dubiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and cheering up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Salamander. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yawned Mrs. Salamander swiftly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Salamander 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 haughtily.