Miss Whale And The New Neighbor

Miss Whale lived on a moonscape in a wikiup made of seashells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Tropical fish standing there, his hands on his gut. "How nice to see you, Mister Tropical fish," Miss Whale snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mister Tropical fish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" griped Miss Whale temperamentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," sniffed Mister Tropical fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the gerbil that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," intimated Miss Whale. "I didn't know about any gerbil. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," uttered Mister Tropical fish rapidly. "I heard that this gerbil likes to monitor cameras."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Tropical fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of gerbils monitoring cameras?"

"I can't imagine," squealed Miss Whale.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mister Tropical fish.

"Appoint a committee?" stated Miss Whale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Tropical fish had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Tropical fish blindly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," concluded Miss Whale charmingly, 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 Tropical fish hastily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sneered Miss Whale sternly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and staring into space. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Tropical fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blustered Mister Tropical fish gleefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Whale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied frantically.