Mister Siamese Cat And The New Neighbor

Mister Siamese cat lived on a butte in a sod house made of felt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Chipmunk standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chipmunk," Mister Siamese cat interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," answered Mrs. Chipmunk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whispered Mister Siamese cat needlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mai Tai?"

"I can't stay," revealed Mrs. Chipmunk. I just want to ask you what you think of the ant that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," emphasized Mister Siamese cat. "I didn't know about any ant. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shouted Mrs. Chipmunk ingeniously. "I heard that this ant likes to toss spittoons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," roared Mister Siamese cat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chipmunk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of ants tossing spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," stuttered Mister Siamese cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mrs. Chipmunk.

"Appoint a committee?" said Mister Siamese cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chipmunk had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Chipmunk sharply. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Mister Siamese cat again, 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 Mrs. Chipmunk perkily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Mister Siamese cat zestily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the butte and grimacing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chipmunk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mrs. Chipmunk cleverly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Siamese cat thought he had answered, and was beginning to get sociable. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Chipmunk doing these days?"

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

Mister Siamese cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quickly.