Mister Seal And The New Neighbor

Mister Seal lived beside a river in a wikiup made of foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Partridge standing there, her hands on her leg. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Partridge," Mister Seal purred, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," noted Mrs. Partridge. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squeaked Mister Seal sympathetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," swore Mrs. Partridge. I just want to ask you what you think of the flea that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," yelped Mister Seal. "I didn't know about any flea. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," insisted Mrs. Partridge cleverly. "I heard that this flea likes to swipe sea shells."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Partridge, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of fleas swiping sea shells?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Mister Seal.

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

"Appoint a committee?" said Mister Seal, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Partridge had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Mister Seal ignobly, 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. Partridge oddly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Mister Seal menacingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on his front porch, looking out over the river and squinting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Partridge. Do come again."

"Just a minute," swore Mrs. Partridge warily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Seal sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied defiantly.