Mister Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Mister Tropical fish lived on a mountainside in a condominium made of linen. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Lobster standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Lobster," Mister Tropical fish whimpered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screamed Mister Lobster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stated Mister Tropical fish blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," pleaded Mister Lobster. I just want to ask you what you think of the cheetah that's come to the mountainside.

"I really don't know," phrased Mister Tropical fish. "I didn't know about any cheetah. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mister Lobster arrogantly. "I heard that this cheetah likes to rock boxes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," bellowed Mister Tropical fish, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Lobster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of cheetahs rocking boxes?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Tropical fish.

"What are we going to do about it?" screamed Mister Lobster.

"Appoint a committee?" grieved Mister Tropical fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lobster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniped Mister Tropical fish unnaturally, 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 Lobster diligently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," croaked Mister Tropical fish shakily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and blanking out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lobster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," croaked Mister Lobster deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Tropical fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gracefully.