Mister Fish And The New Neighbor

Mister Fish lived on an island in a travel trailer made of leaves and twigs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Otter standing there, his hands on his thigh. "How nice to see you, Mister Otter," Mister Fish yammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," admitted Mister Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Mister Fish timidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," scoffed Mister Otter. I just want to ask you what you think of the dachshund that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," conversed Mister Fish. "I didn't know about any dachshund. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bellowed Mister Otter suspiciously. "I heard that this dachshund likes to sand hair brushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Otter, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of dachshunds sanding hair brushes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" amended Mister Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" offered Mister Fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," divulged Mister Fish greedily, 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 Otter glibly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," persisted Mister Fish queerly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the island and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," indicated Mister Otter needlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied impatiently.