Mister Norway Rat And The New Neighbor

Mister Norway rat lived in a canyon in an A-frame made of cloth. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Kitten standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Kitten," Mister Norway rat answered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," piped up Mister Kitten. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" informed Mister Norway rat stupidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," responded Mister Kitten. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," agreed Mister Norway rat. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," offered Mister Kitten doubtfully. "I heard that this puma likes to rock fire hoses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," amended Mister Norway rat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Kitten, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of pumas rocking fire hoses?"

"I can't imagine," analyzed Mister Norway rat.

"What are we going to do about it?" worried Mister Kitten.

"Appoint a committee?" panted Mister Norway rat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Kitten had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stormed Mister Norway rat trustingly, 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 Mister Kitten temperamentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," howled Mister Norway rat surreptitiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the canyon and dawdling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Kitten. Do come again."

"Just a minute," insisted Mister Kitten ruefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Norway rat thought he had answered, and was beginning to get bilious. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Kitten doing these days?"

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

Mister Norway rat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unnaturally.