Miss Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Miss Brine shrimp lived in a valley in a houseboat made of hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Teddy bear standing there, his hands on his stomach. "How nice to see you, Mister Teddy bear," Miss Brine shrimp shrieked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rationalized Mister Teddy bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blurted Miss Brine shrimp angrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mister Teddy bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," clarified Miss Brine shrimp. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shuddered Mister Teddy bear sharply. "I heard that this penguin likes to swirl air compressors."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Teddy bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of penguins swirling air compressors?"

"I can't imagine," tittered Miss Brine shrimp.

"What are we going to do about it?" piped up Mister Teddy bear.

"Appoint a committee?" breathed Miss Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Teddy bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Teddy bear brashly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," joked Miss Brine shrimp madly, 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 Teddy bear gleefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," babbled Miss Brine shrimp suddenly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the valley and turning blue. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Teddy bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lectured Mister Teddy bear lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Brine shrimp sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied craftily.