Miss Kitty And The New Neighbor

Miss Kitty lived at a dump in a resort made of drywall. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bird standing there, her hands on her pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bird," Miss Kitty blathered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fretted Mrs. Bird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" accused Miss Kitty quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," amended Mrs. Bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," taunted Miss Kitty. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," panted Mrs. Bird brashly. "I heard that this ghost likes to review pieces of chalk."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of ghosts reviewing pieces of chalk?"

"I can't imagine," intoned Miss Kitty.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mrs. Bird.

"Appoint a committee?" announced Miss Kitty, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Miss Kitty automatically, 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. Bird warily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intimated Miss Kitty proudly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the dump and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," babbled Mrs. Bird grimly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kitty sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lovingly.