Miss Goldfish And The New Neighbor

Miss Goldfish lived on a mountain in a wigwam made of brick. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mountain goat standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mountain goat," Miss Goldfish chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," expressed Mrs. Mountain goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groaned Miss Goldfish courteously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Mountain goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," expressed Miss Goldfish. "I didn't know about any mink. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lectured Mrs. Mountain goat cleverly. "I heard that this mink likes to seal corks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," pronounced Miss Goldfish, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mountain goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of minks sealing corks?"

"I can't imagine," avowed Miss Goldfish.

"What are we going to do about it?" begged Mrs. Mountain goat.

"Appoint a committee?" voiced Miss Goldfish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mountain goat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Mountain goat dolorously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," noted Miss Goldfish swiftly, 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. Mountain goat quietly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whined Miss Goldfish wildly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mountain goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mrs. Mountain goat courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Goldfish thought she had answered, and was beginning to get self-assured. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Mountain goat doing these days?"

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

Miss Goldfish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.