Miss Goblin And The New Neighbor

Miss Goblin lived in a glen in a quonset hut made of denim. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Groundhog standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Groundhog," Miss Goblin sniveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hinted Mrs. Groundhog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" questioned Miss Goblin sarcastically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Harvey Wallbanger?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mrs. Groundhog. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," informed Miss Goblin. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mrs. Groundhog positively. "I heard that this toad likes to ignore bottles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Groundhog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of toads ignoring bottles?"

"I can't imagine," repeated Miss Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" clarified Mrs. Groundhog.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Miss Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Groundhog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Goblin elatedly, 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 Mrs. Groundhog accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Goblin crankily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hamper on her front porch, looking out over the glen and pausing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Groundhog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mrs. Groundhog unabashedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crazily.