Mister Tropical Fish And The New Neighbor

Mister Tropical fish lived in an outback in a barracks made of chicken wire. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Dromedary standing there, her hands on her kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dromedary," Mister Tropical fish exclaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mrs. Dromedary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Mister Tropical fish carelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of fruit punch?"

"I can't stay," trumpeted Mrs. Dromedary. I just want to ask you what you think of the meerkat that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," piped up Mister Tropical fish. "I didn't know about any meerkat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," said Mrs. Dromedary carelessly. "I heard that this meerkat likes to certify toilet plungers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dromedary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of meerkats certifying toilet plungers?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mrs. Dromedary.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Mister Tropical fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dromedary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," clarified Mister Tropical fish numbly, 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. Dromedary daringly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," asserted Mister Tropical fish haughtily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the outback and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dromedary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," growled Mrs. Dromedary offhandedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Dromedary 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 peevishly.