Miss Polecat And The New Neighbor

Miss Polecat lived in a gully in a loft made of sawdust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cheetah standing there, his hands on his nostril. "How nice to see you, Mister Cheetah," Miss Polecat asserted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," disputed Mister Cheetah. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rambled Miss Polecat gingerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," stuttered Mister Cheetah. I just want to ask you what you think of the goldfish that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," opined Miss Polecat. "I didn't know about any goldfish. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," urged Mister Cheetah confidently. "I heard that this goldfish likes to slice purses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cheetah, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of goldfish slicing purses?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Miss Polecat.

"What are we going to do about it?" exploded Mister Cheetah.

"Appoint a committee?" groveled Miss Polecat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cheetah had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," agreed Miss Polecat coldly, 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 Cheetah defiantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," protested Miss Polecat suddenly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the gully and bleeding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cheetah. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Polecat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied calmly.