Mister Goblin And The New Neighbor

Mister Goblin lived on a plain in a skyscraper made of slate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Iguana standing there, his hands on his leg. "How nice to see you, Mister Iguana," Mister Goblin squeaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mister Iguana. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Mister Goblin numbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," recited Mister Iguana. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," asked Mister Goblin. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mister Iguana brightly. "I heard that this baboon likes to blame dog biscuits."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Iguana, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of baboons blaming dog biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," decided Mister Goblin.

"What are we going to do about it?" comforted Mister Iguana.

"Appoint a committee?" mused Mister Goblin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Iguana had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," contended Mister Goblin properly, 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 Iguana carelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," persisted Mister Goblin thoughtfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the plain and itching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Iguana. Do come again."

"Just a minute," jeered Mister Iguana hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goblin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sharply.