Miss Phantom And The New Neighbor

Miss Phantom lived in a housing development in a villa made of pipe cleaners. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bullfrog standing there, his hands on his spine. "How nice to see you, Mister Bullfrog," Miss Phantom continued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fantasized Mister Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fretted Miss Phantom stealthily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mister Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," invited Miss Phantom. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cried Mister Bullfrog boldly. "I heard that this puppy likes to unfold dollar bills."

"Um, I don't know what to say," squeaked Miss Phantom, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of puppies unfolding dollar bills?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Miss Phantom.

"What are we going to do about it?" laughed Mister Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Miss Phantom, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yammered Miss Phantom numbly, 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 Mister Bullfrog fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Miss Phantom greedily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the table on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gabbed Mister Bullfrog demurely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Phantom thought she had answered, and was beginning to get atrocious. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Bullfrog doing these days?"

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

Miss Phantom sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sternly.