Miss Porcupine And The New Neighbor

Miss Porcupine lived in a landfill in a house made of candy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Siamese cat standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Siamese cat," Miss Porcupine fumed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sputtered Mister Siamese cat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" nattered Miss Porcupine fiercely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister Siamese cat. I just want to ask you what you think of the cockroach that's come to the landfill.

"I really don't know," offered Miss Porcupine. "I didn't know about any cockroach. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declaimed Mister Siamese cat demurely. "I heard that this cockroach likes to ridicule saddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Siamese cat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the landfill when we get a lot of cockroaches ridiculing saddles?"

"I can't imagine," murmured Miss Porcupine.

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mister Siamese cat.

"Appoint a committee?" sneered Miss Porcupine, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Siamese cat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Siamese cat vigorously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Miss Porcupine boldly, 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 Siamese cat charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," swore Miss Porcupine curiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on her front porch, looking out over the landfill and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Siamese cat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," realized Mister Siamese cat briskly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Porcupine sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ingeniously.