Mister Goblin And The New Neighbor

Mister Goblin lived alongside a stream in an A-frame made of titanium. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sweet potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Wolf standing there, his hands on his hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mister Wolf," Mister Goblin chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," protested Mister Wolf. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" acknowledged Mister Goblin blindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," expressed Mister Wolf. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," recited Mister Goblin. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mister Wolf smoothly. "I heard that this eagle likes to fortify fishhooks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," voiced Mister Goblin, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Wolf, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of eagles fortifying fishhooks?"

"I can't imagine," thought Mister Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mister Wolf.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Mister Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Wolf had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," jeered Mister Goblin frantically, 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 Mister Wolf glumly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stormed Mister Goblin zestily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the stream and getting upset. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Wolf. Do come again."

"Just a minute," decided Mister Wolf breathlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Goblin thought he had answered, and was beginning to get menacing. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Wolf doing these days?"

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

Mister Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied tearfully.