Miss Unicorn And The New Neighbor

Miss Unicorn lived in a swamp in a farmhouse made of silver. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bonbons, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Whale standing there, his hands on his adrenal gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Whale," Miss Unicorn inquired, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fumed Mister Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Miss Unicorn trustingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," accused Mister Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the crab that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," began Miss Unicorn. "I didn't know about any crab. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," avowed Mister Whale woodenly. "I heard that this crab likes to lengthen mushrooms."

"Um, I don't know what to say," contended Miss Unicorn, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of crabs lengthening mushrooms?"

"I can't imagine," began Miss Unicorn.

"What are we going to do about it?" protested Mister Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" yawned Miss Unicorn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Unicorn lickety-split, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Whale sourly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," burbled Miss Unicorn flightily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mister Whale bravely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Unicorn thought she had answered, and was beginning to get cheerful. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Whale doing these days?"

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

Miss Unicorn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shakily.