Miss Falcon And The New Neighbor

Miss Falcon lived on a seacoast in a subway tunnel made of tissue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Kitty standing there, her hands on her calf. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kitty," Miss Falcon hinted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mrs. Kitty. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Miss Falcon unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," taunted Mrs. Kitty. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitten that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," exploded Miss Falcon. "I didn't know about any kitten. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spat Mrs. Kitty sleepily. "I heard that this kitten likes to clamp yo-yos."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Kitty, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of kittens clamping yo-yos?"

"I can't imagine," blustered Miss Falcon.

"What are we going to do about it?" thought Mrs. Kitty.

"Appoint a committee?" proposed Miss Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kitty had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Miss Falcon uneasily, 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. Kitty patiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interrupted Miss Falcon threateningly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and dithering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kitty. Do come again."

"Just a minute," burbled Mrs. Kitty proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied firmly.