Miss Eel And The New Neighbor

Miss Eel lived on a range in a flat made of sheet metal. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hippopotamus standing there, his hands on his shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mister Hippopotamus," Miss Eel belched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," mouthed Mister Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hinted Miss Eel busily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," harangued Mister Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," pleaded Miss Eel. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mister Hippopotamus briskly. "I heard that this whale likes to hook batteries."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of whales hooking batteries?"

"I can't imagine," mentioned Miss Eel.

"What are we going to do about it?" cried Mister Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" begged Miss Eel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Miss Eel timidly, 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 Hippopotamus noisily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stammered Miss Eel pityingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the range and grinning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blubbered Mister Hippopotamus arrogantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Eel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sorrowfully.