Miss Kitten And The New Neighbor

Miss Kitten lived in a gulch in a villa made of glass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" burbled Miss Kitten hastily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," amended Mrs. Penguin. I just want to ask you what you think of the turtle that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," sniped Miss Kitten. "I didn't know about any turtle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mrs. Penguin carelessly. "I heard that this turtle likes to taste microphones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Penguin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of turtles tasting microphones?"

"I can't imagine," harangued Miss Kitten.

"What are we going to do about it?" boomed Mrs. Penguin.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," admitted Miss Kitten shakily, 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. Penguin smoothly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squeaked Miss Kitten deliberately, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and lying around in bed. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Penguin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," voiced Mrs. Penguin sourly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kitten sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied bravely.