Miss Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Miss Brine shrimp lived in a briar patch in a housing project made of thatch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mink standing there, her hands on her tummy. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mink," Miss Brine shrimp muttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declared Mrs. Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" retorted Miss Brine shrimp deftly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mudslide?"

"I can't stay," mentioned Mrs. Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," argued Miss Brine shrimp. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spewed Mrs. Mink obediently. "I heard that this eagle likes to patch boxes of Kleenex."

"Um, I don't know what to say," prattled Miss Brine shrimp, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mink, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of eagles patching boxes of Kleenex?"

"I can't imagine," disputed Miss Brine shrimp.

"What are we going to do about it?" raved Mrs. Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" quoted Miss Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mink had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," railed Miss Brine shrimp blissfully, 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. Mink gently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Brine shrimp sternly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and snarling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mink. Do come again."

"Just a minute," provoked Mrs. Mink dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Brine shrimp sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied again.