Miss Cat And The New Neighbor

Miss Cat lived in a circus tent in a sod house made of uranium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Crab standing there, her hands on her toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crab," Miss Cat expressed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mrs. Crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vouched Miss Cat speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mrs. Crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the mole that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," murmured Miss Cat. "I didn't know about any mole. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mrs. Crab firmly. "I heard that this mole likes to bend tablet computers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crab, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of moles bending tablet computers?"

"I can't imagine," asked Miss Cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" wondered Mrs. Crab.

"Appoint a committee?" judged Miss Cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crab had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chimed Miss Cat needlessly, 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. Crab suspiciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Miss Cat positively, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on her front porch, looking out over the circus tent and getting upset. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whined Mrs. Crab later. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sternly.