Mister Goblin And The New Neighbor

Mister Goblin lived on a seacoast in a travel trailer made of Tyvek. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Rooster standing there, her hands on her lip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rooster," Mister Goblin voiced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," growled Mrs. Rooster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Mister Goblin crazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," clarified Mrs. Rooster. I just want to ask you what you think of the walrus that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," belched Mister Goblin. "I didn't know about any walrus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," called Mrs. Rooster gingerly. "I heard that this walrus likes to comprehend charts."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rooster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of walruses comprehending charts?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Mister Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" spewed Mrs. Rooster.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Mister Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rooster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Mister Goblin vacantly, 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. Rooster repeatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smirked Mister Goblin vacantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the seacoast and lying down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rooster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vowed Mrs. Rooster haughtily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied neatly.