Miss Mustang And The New Neighbor

Miss Mustang lived on a seacoast in a retreat made of kelp. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blustered Miss Mustang violently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mrs. Brine shrimp. I just want to ask you what you think of the porcupine that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," called Miss Mustang. "I didn't know about any porcupine. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mrs. Brine shrimp glibly. "I heard that this porcupine likes to clean fish."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Brine shrimp, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of porcupines cleaning fish?"

"I can't imagine," barked Miss Mustang.

"What are we going to do about it?" acknowledged Mrs. Brine shrimp.

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

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Brine shrimp thankfully. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Miss Mustang flightily, 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. Brine shrimp accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Miss Mustang primly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and screeching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Brine shrimp. Do come again."

"Just a minute," harangued Mrs. Brine shrimp dubiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mustang sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied obediently.