Mister Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Mister Brine shrimp lived at a crime scene in a motel made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Elk standing there, her hands on her ear. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elk," Mister Brine shrimp trumpeted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mrs. Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Mister Brine shrimp dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mrs. Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the lion that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," trumpeted Mister Brine shrimp. "I didn't know about any lion. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," intimated Mrs. Elk gruffly. "I heard that this lion likes to wipe horseshoes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," affirmed Mister Brine shrimp, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of lions wiping horseshoes?"

"I can't imagine," preached Mister Brine shrimp.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mrs. Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" taunted Mister Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blathered Mister Brine shrimp briskly, 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. Elk slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chuckled Mister Brine shrimp cleverly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on his front porch, looking out over the crime scene and dreaming. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," admitted Mrs. Elk peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Brine shrimp sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bravely.