Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived at an oasis in a sod house made of rubble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Miss Tropical fish nimbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," boomed Mrs. Goblin. I just want to ask you what you think of the meerkat that's come to the oasis.

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

"Well don't be so sure," suggested Mrs. Goblin madly. "I heard that this meerkat likes to rub cream puffs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goblin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of meerkats rubbing cream puffs?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" warbled Mrs. Goblin.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Miss Tropical fish temperamentally, 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. Goblin cruelly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," moaned Miss Tropical fish solemnly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goblin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yelled Mrs. Goblin miserably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Goblin 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 crankily.