Mister Brine Shrimp And The New Neighbor

Mister Brine shrimp lived on a mountaintop in a KOA Kampground made of vinyl. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Burro standing there, his hands on his adrenal gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Burro," Mister Brine shrimp recited, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sputtered Mister Burro. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," yawned Mister Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the pelican that's come to the mountaintop.

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

"Well don't be so sure," smirked Mister Burro gruffly. "I heard that this pelican likes to roast teacups."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Burro, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of pelicans roasting teacups?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" grunted Mister Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" shouted Mister Brine shrimp, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," affirmed Mister Brine shrimp pitifully, 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 Burro majestically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Mister Brine shrimp stupidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and apologizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Burro. Do come again."

"Just a minute," insisted Mister Burro awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Burro 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 nicely.