Miss Siamese Cat And The New Neighbor

Miss Siamese cat lived in a desert in a Cape Cod made of denim. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hippopotamus standing there, her hands on her face. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hippopotamus," Miss Siamese cat announced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," complained Mrs. Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Miss Siamese cat greedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," yowled Mrs. Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the rat that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," hummed Miss Siamese cat. "I didn't know about any rat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," piped up Mrs. Hippopotamus defiantly. "I heard that this rat likes to modify diagrams."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of rats modifying diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," smirked Miss Siamese cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" hinted Mrs. Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Miss Siamese cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Miss Siamese cat irritably, 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. Hippopotamus unabashedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Miss Siamese cat nervously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the desert and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," giggled Mrs. Hippopotamus surreptitiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Siamese cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lovingly.