Mister Ghost And The New Neighbor

Mister Ghost lived on a peninsula in a park bench made of thatch. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Iguana standing there, her hands on her shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Iguana," Mister Ghost grieved, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squeaked Mrs. Iguana. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" invited Mister Ghost majestically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," noted Mrs. Iguana. I just want to ask you what you think of the chicken that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," implored Mister Ghost. "I didn't know about any chicken. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," agreed Mrs. Iguana valiantly. "I heard that this chicken likes to recommend bats."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Iguana, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of chickens recommending bats?"

"I can't imagine," shuddered Mister Ghost.

"What are we going to do about it?" screamed Mrs. Iguana.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Mister Ghost, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Iguana had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Mister Ghost wryly, 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 Mrs. Iguana furiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rationalized Mister Ghost trustingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the peninsula and clapping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Iguana. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mrs. Iguana excitedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ghost sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quietly.