Miss Dolphin And The New Neighbor

Miss Dolphin lived in a park in a loft made of plasma. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover smoked salmon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dragon standing there, her hands on her kidney. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dragon," Miss Dolphin added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," decided Mrs. Dragon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boomed Miss Dolphin sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of papaya juice?"

"I can't stay," cackled Mrs. Dragon. I just want to ask you what you think of the swan that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," noted Miss Dolphin. "I didn't know about any swan. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hissed Mrs. Dragon despondently. "I heard that this swan likes to tickle teapots."

"Um, I don't know what to say," trumpeted Miss Dolphin, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dragon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of swans tickling teapots?"

"I can't imagine," retorted Miss Dolphin.

"What are we going to do about it?" panted Mrs. Dragon.

"Appoint a committee?" analyzed Miss Dolphin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dragon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," judged Miss Dolphin glibly, 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 Mrs. Dragon dreamily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Miss Dolphin hopelessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on her front porch, looking out over the park and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dragon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," explained Mrs. Dragon softly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Dolphin thought she had answered, and was beginning to get lanky. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Dragon doing these days?"

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

Miss Dolphin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hungrily.