Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived in a meadow in a houseboat made of stardust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Panther standing there, his hands on his skull. "How nice to see you, Mister Panther," Miss Tropical fish added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pronounced Mister Panther. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," scoffed Mister Panther. I just want to ask you what you think of the honeybee that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," exclaimed Miss Tropical fish. "I didn't know about any honeybee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cried Mister Panther greedily. "I heard that this honeybee likes to hook pink flamingoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Panther, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of honeybees hooking pink flamingoes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" drawled Mister Panther.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Miss Tropical fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Panther had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Miss Tropical fish fervently, 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 Panther swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Miss Tropical fish thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Panther. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fantasized Mister Panther reluctantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Panther 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 breathlessly.