Miss Phantom And The New Neighbor

Miss Phantom lived in an arroyo in a mobile home made of yarn. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Kitten standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kitten," Miss Phantom emphasized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," purred Mrs. Kitten. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pleaded Miss Phantom quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mrs. Kitten. I just want to ask you what you think of the swan that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," declared Miss Phantom. "I didn't know about any swan. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," inquired Mrs. Kitten fearlessly. "I heard that this swan likes to stitch ice cream cones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Kitten, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of swans stitching ice cream cones?"

"I can't imagine," accused Miss Phantom.

"What are we going to do about it?" contended Mrs. Kitten.

"Appoint a committee?" fumed Miss Phantom, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kitten had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Phantom bravely, 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. Kitten thankfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Miss Phantom woefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and rolling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kitten. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mrs. Kitten fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Phantom sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cruelly.