Miss Cat And The New Neighbor

Miss Cat lived on a path in a barracks made of sugar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Rabbit standing there, her hands on her little finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rabbit," Miss Cat professed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," imitated Mrs. Rabbit. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" growled Miss Cat jokingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," reacted Mrs. Rabbit. I just want to ask you what you think of the hog that's come to the path.

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

"Well don't be so sure," vowed Mrs. Rabbit woodenly. "I heard that this hog likes to wipe bananas."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rabbit, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of hogs wiping bananas?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" declared Mrs. Rabbit.

"Appoint a committee?" brought up Miss Cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rabbit had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," divulged Miss Cat zestily, 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 Mrs. Rabbit bitterly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cried Miss Cat quietly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the path and quivering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rabbit. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shuddered Mrs. Rabbit gracefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Rabbit 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 carelessly.