Mister Robot And The New Neighbor

Mister Robot lived in a village in a hut made of mud bricks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Kitty standing there, her hands on her eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kitty," Mister Robot whined, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," responded Mrs. Kitty. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" debated Mister Robot joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," yelped Mrs. Kitty. I just want to ask you what you think of the ferret that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," quavered Mister Robot. "I didn't know about any ferret. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mrs. Kitty viciously. "I heard that this ferret likes to protect compasses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," reasoned Mister Robot, 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 village when we get a lot of ferrets protecting compasses?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Mister Robot.

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

"Appoint a committee?" squeaked Mister Robot, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kitty had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," trumpeted Mister Robot happily, 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. Kitty happily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," groveled Mister Robot numbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the village and shrugging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kitty. Do come again."

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

Mister Robot thought he had answered, and was beginning to get brash. "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?"

Mister Robot sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grandly.