Mister Kitten And The New Neighbor

Mister Kitten lived in a field in a manor made of asphalt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cockroach standing there, her hands on her intestine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cockroach," Mister Kitten orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Cockroach. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quoted Mister Kitten ruefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," fantasized Mrs. Cockroach. I just want to ask you what you think of the snake that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," explained Mister Kitten. "I didn't know about any snake. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mrs. Cockroach sourly. "I heard that this snake likes to shoot bouquets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockroach, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of snakes shooting bouquets?"

"I can't imagine," brought up Mister Kitten.

"What are we going to do about it?" asserted Mrs. Cockroach.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Mister Kitten, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cockroach had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," gasped Mister Kitten dubiously, 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. Cockroach repeatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grieved Mister Kitten merrily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on his front porch, looking out over the field and fulminating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockroach. Do come again."

"Just a minute," preached Mrs. Cockroach suavely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Kitten sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied coolly.