Miss Ghost And The New Neighbor

Miss Ghost lived in a hayfield in a teepee made of Velcro. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Miss Ghost innocently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," peeped Mrs. Brine shrimp. I just want to ask you what you think of the boar that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," quoted Miss Ghost. "I didn't know about any boar. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," professed Mrs. Brine shrimp confidently. "I heard that this boar likes to kiss wastebaskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Brine shrimp, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of boars kissing wastebaskets?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Miss Ghost.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mrs. Brine shrimp.

"Appoint a committee?" reasoned Miss Ghost, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Brine shrimp had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Brine shrimp miserably. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Miss Ghost gratefully, 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. Brine shrimp crankily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gabbed Miss Ghost crazily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and jumping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Brine shrimp. Do come again."

"Just a minute," prattled Mrs. Brine shrimp sympathetically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ghost sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied trustingly.