Miss Kitten And The New Neighbor

Miss Kitten lived in an arroyo in a manor house made of manure. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Worm standing there, his hands on his spinal cord. "How nice to see you, Mister Worm," Miss Kitten divulged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bragged Mister Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spewed Miss Kitten rapidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," interpreted Mister Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the seal that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," imitated Miss Kitten. "I didn't know about any seal. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mister Worm nimbly. "I heard that this seal likes to pack beach balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Worm, 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 seals packing beach balls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" swore Mister Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Miss Kitten, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Worm had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Worm uneasily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Miss Kitten nervously, 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 Mister Worm anxiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Miss Kitten thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and lounging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," expressed Mister Worm languidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Worm 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 noisily.