Miss Zebra And The New Neighbor

Miss Zebra lived on a butte in a Cape Cod made of pipe cleaners. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Goblin standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Goblin," Miss Zebra panted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cackled Mrs. Goblin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chuckled Miss Zebra jokingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," whined Mrs. Goblin. I just want to ask you what you think of the crocodile that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," guessed Miss Zebra. "I didn't know about any crocodile. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hinted Mrs. Goblin solemnly. "I heard that this crocodile likes to swirl oriental vases."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goblin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of crocodiles swirling oriental vases?"

"I can't imagine," simpered Miss Zebra.

"What are we going to do about it?" repeated Mrs. Goblin.

"Appoint a committee?" sniveled Miss Zebra, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Goblin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," explained Miss Zebra sagely, 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. Goblin sourly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," answered Miss Zebra openly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on her front porch, looking out over the butte and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goblin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shuddered Mrs. Goblin flightily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Zebra sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sagely.