Miss Shark And The New Neighbor

Miss Shark lived in a rainforest in a closet made of rubble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Whale standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Miss Shark chimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whimpered Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Miss Shark surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," affirmed Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the magpie that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," panted Miss Shark. "I didn't know about any magpie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declaimed Mrs. Whale glibly. "I heard that this magpie likes to rearrange Hostess Ding Dongs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of magpies rearranging Hostess Ding Dongs?"

"I can't imagine," spoke up Miss Shark.

"What are we going to do about it?" mused Mrs. Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" decided Miss Shark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," inquired Miss Shark dreamily, 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. Whale calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," commented Miss Shark cunningly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whimpered Mrs. Whale blissfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Shark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lickety-split.