Mister Fish And The New Neighbor

Mister Fish lived in a canyon in a chapel made of felt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover apple pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boasted Mister Fish breathlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," chimed Mrs. Shark. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," recited Mister Fish. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mrs. Shark ingeniously. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to disguise hot potatoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Shark, 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 hippopotami disguising hot potatoes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" blathered Mrs. Shark.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," decided Mister Fish fondly, 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. Shark pityingly. "You always have such good ideas."

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

"Just a minute," stuttered Mrs. Shark awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Shark 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 neatly.