Mister Fish And The New Neighbor

Mister Fish lived in a canyon in a travel trailer made of chalk. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Panda standing there, her hands on her back. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Panda," Mister Fish offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," continued Mrs. Panda. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" winked Mister Fish uneasily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," voiced Mrs. Panda. I just want to ask you what you think of the dormouse that's come to the canyon.

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

"Well don't be so sure," stated Mrs. Panda recklessly. "I heard that this dormouse likes to smudge handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Panda, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of dormice smudging handkerchiefs?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" purred Mrs. Panda.

"Appoint a committee?" contended Mister Fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Panda had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stated Mister Fish steadily, 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. Panda suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," called Mister Fish strictly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the canyon and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Panda. Do come again."

"Just a minute," complained Mrs. Panda excitedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Panda 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 recklessly.