Miss Kitten And The New Neighbor

Miss Kitten lived in an outback in a park bench made of stainless steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Mule standing there, his hands on his jaw. "How nice to see you, Mister Mule," Miss Kitten repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," articulated Mister Mule. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" remarked Miss Kitten daintily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Mule. I just want to ask you what you think of the gecko that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," phrased Miss Kitten. "I didn't know about any gecko. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mister Mule calmly. "I heard that this gecko likes to stitch stones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mule, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of geckos stitching stones?"

"I can't imagine," hinted Miss Kitten.

"What are we going to do about it?" quavered Mister Mule.

"Appoint a committee?" brought up Miss Kitten, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mule had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hollered Miss Kitten peevishly, 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 Mule hopefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Miss Kitten slyly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the outback and grinning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mule. Do come again."

"Just a minute," laughed Mister Mule deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kitten sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courageously.