Mister Cat And The New Neighbor

Mister Cat lived in a valley in a dugout made of sawdust. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cheetah standing there, her hands on her toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cheetah," Mister Cat sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wondered Mrs. Cheetah. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Mister Cat arrogantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," blurted Mrs. Cheetah. I just want to ask you what you think of the computer that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," asserted Mister Cat. "I didn't know about any computer. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mrs. Cheetah craftily. "I heard that this computer likes to stain cream puffs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cheetah, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of computers staining cream puffs?"

"I can't imagine," prattled Mister Cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" vowed Mrs. Cheetah.

"Appoint a committee?" scoffed Mister Cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cheetah had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hollered Mister Cat thankfully, 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. Cheetah thankfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quoted Mister Cat carefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on his front porch, looking out over the valley and burping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cheetah. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mrs. Cheetah thankfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied resignedly.