Miss Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Fish lived on an island in a villa made of chalk. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ape standing there, his hands on his eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Ape," Miss Fish professed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," swore Mister Ape. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Miss Fish majestically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," persisted Mister Ape. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," concluded Miss Fish. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mister Ape reluctantly. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to overlook ping-pong paddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ape, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of teddy bears overlooking ping-pong paddles?"

"I can't imagine," answered Miss Fish.

"What are we going to do about it?" yammered Mister Ape.

"Appoint a committee?" murmured Miss Fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ape had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," opined Miss Fish anxiously, 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 Ape shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," instructed Miss Fish silently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the island and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ape. Do come again."

"Just a minute," muttered Mister Ape languidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied thankfully.