Mister Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Mister Brine shrimp lived in a forest in a convent made of ivory. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Dingo standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dingo," Mister Brine shrimp conversed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hinted Mrs. Dingo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exclaimed Mister Brine shrimp excitedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," decided Mrs. Dingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Brine shrimp. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mrs. Dingo thoughtfully. "I heard that this toad likes to face oranges."

"Um, I don't know what to say," disputed Mister Brine shrimp, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of toads facing oranges?"

"I can't imagine," yelped Mister Brine shrimp.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mrs. Dingo.

"Appoint a committee?" interrupted Mister Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," winked Mister Brine shrimp speedily, 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. Dingo shyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Mister Brine shrimp cheerfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the forest and hollering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mrs. Dingo grudgingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Brine shrimp sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cheerfully.