Mister Siamese Cat And The New Neighbor

Mister Siamese cat lived on a path in a monastery made of moss. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Burro standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Burro," Mister Siamese cat piped up, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mrs. Burro. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Mister Siamese cat confidently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," chuckled Mrs. Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the goat that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," roared Mister Siamese cat. "I didn't know about any goat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," inquired Mrs. Burro deftly. "I heard that this goat likes to bake paper bags."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sighed Mister Siamese cat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Burro, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of goats baking paper bags?"

"I can't imagine," breathed Mister Siamese cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" demanded Mrs. Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" fantasized Mister Siamese cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snorted Mister Siamese cat greedily, 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. Burro offhandedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," proposed Mister Siamese cat awkwardly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the path and inhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Burro. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snarled Mrs. Burro wryly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Siamese cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied doubtfully.