Mister Lobster And The New Neighbor

Mister Lobster lived in a badlands area in an apartment made of chocolate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni and cheese, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Dromedary standing there, his hands on his funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mister Dromedary," Mister Lobster sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cajoled Mister Dromedary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" protested Mister Lobster greedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of water?"

"I can't stay," repeated Mister Dromedary. I just want to ask you what you think of the cat that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," whispered Mister Lobster. "I didn't know about any cat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," instructed Mister Dromedary threateningly. "I heard that this cat likes to distort muffins."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dromedary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of cats distorting muffins?"

"I can't imagine," drawled Mister Lobster.

"What are we going to do about it?" bawled Mister Dromedary.

"Appoint a committee?" spewed Mister Lobster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dromedary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bragged Mister Lobster narrowly, 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 Dromedary ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pleaded Mister Lobster truculently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on his front porch, looking out over the badlands area and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dromedary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sighed Mister Dromedary cleverly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Lobster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied glibly.