Miss Cat And The New Neighbor

Miss Cat lived on a plain in a spa made of papyrus. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ladybug standing there, his hands on his scalp. "How nice to see you, Mister Ladybug," Miss Cat yowled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," orated Mister Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" commented Miss Cat pitifully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," guessed Mister Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the opossum that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," guessed Miss Cat. "I didn't know about any opossum. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sobbed Mister Ladybug thankfully. "I heard that this opossum likes to throw ropes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ladybug, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of opossums throwing ropes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" squawked Mister Ladybug.

"Appoint a committee?" reacted Miss Cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ladybug had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Miss Cat warily, 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 Ladybug firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intoned Miss Cat lightly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on her front porch, looking out over the plain and grumbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ladybug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sputtered Mister Ladybug fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Ladybug 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 happily.