Mister Dolphin And The New Neighbor

Mister Dolphin lived on a wasteland in a loft made of bubbles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Whale standing there, her hands on her knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Whale," Mister Dolphin bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rambled Mrs. Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boomed Mister Dolphin timidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," offered Mrs. Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the wasteland.

"I really don't know," sobbed Mister Dolphin. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mrs. Whale queerly. "I heard that this puma likes to get pencil sharpeners."

"Um, I don't know what to say," realized Mister Dolphin, 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 wasteland when we get a lot of pumas getting pencil sharpeners?"

"I can't imagine," cried Mister Dolphin.

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

"Appoint a committee?" stormed Mister Dolphin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pronounced Mister Dolphin suavely, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Whale irritably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Dolphin tearfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the wasteland and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Whale. Do come again."

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

Mister Dolphin thought he had answered, and was beginning to get bouncy. "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?"

Mister Dolphin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sleepily.