Miss Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Tropical fish lived at a lakeside in a quonset hut made of Portland cement. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover apple pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" howled Miss Tropical fish admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," yammered Mrs. Lynx. I just want to ask you what you think of the buffalo that's come to the lakeside.

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

"Well don't be so sure," lamented Mrs. Lynx impatiently. "I heard that this buffalo likes to wipe blank checks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lynx, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of buffalo wiping blank checks?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" bellowed Mrs. Lynx.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," explained Miss Tropical fish cheerfully, 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. Lynx courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Miss Tropical fish daintily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and suffering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lynx. Do come again."

"Just a minute," emphasized Mrs. Lynx coldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Lynx 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 sleepily.