Miss Goblin And The New Neighbor

Miss Goblin lived in a desert in a chalet made of bubbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Peacock standing there, his hands on his vein. "How nice to see you, Mister Peacock," Miss Goblin responded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blubbered Mister Peacock. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" affirmed Miss Goblin glumly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," pointed out Mister Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the muskrat that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," repeated Miss Goblin. "I didn't know about any muskrat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," instructed Mister Peacock happily. "I heard that this muskrat likes to burn iPhones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of muskrats burning iPhones?"

"I can't imagine," contended Miss Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" called Mister Peacock.

"Appoint a committee?" added Miss Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Peacock had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fantasized Miss Goblin trustingly, 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 Peacock vigorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sputtered Miss Goblin frantically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bed on her front porch, looking out over the desert and gazing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Peacock. Do come again."

"Just a minute," judged Mister Peacock lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courageously.