Miss Hawk And The New Neighbor

Miss Hawk lived in a park in a retreat made of Tyvek. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lamb curry, when she heard a knock at the door.

She strolled 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 forehead. "How nice to see you, Mister Siamese cat," Miss Hawk lectured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," orated Mister Siamese cat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Miss Hawk sarcastically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," asked Mister Siamese cat. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," comforted Miss Hawk. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Siamese cat urgently. "I heard that this eagle likes to unfasten buttons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," bawled Miss Hawk, 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 park when we get a lot of eagles unfastening buttons?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Hawk.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bawled Miss Hawk breathlessly, 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 sleepily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Hawk accidentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on her front porch, looking out over the park and puckering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Siamese cat. Do come again."

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

Miss Hawk thought she had answered, and was beginning to get spindly. "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 Hawk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gruffly.