Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived on a steppe in a mud hut made of burlap. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chopped liver, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Moose standing there, her hands on her nostril. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Moose," Miss Tropical fish provoked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asserted Mrs. Moose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" commented Miss Tropical fish pityingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," swore Mrs. Moose. I just want to ask you what you think of the bat that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," continued Miss Tropical fish. "I didn't know about any bat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," acknowledged Mrs. Moose lovingly. "I heard that this bat likes to face stamps."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Moose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of bats facing stamps?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" babbled Mrs. Moose.

"Appoint a committee?" orated Miss Tropical fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Moose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shouted Miss Tropical fish grimly, 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. Moose valiantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniffed Miss Tropical fish perkily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on her front porch, looking out over the steppe and cringing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Moose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blubbered Mrs. Moose lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Moose 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 narrowly.