Mister Cat And The New Neighbor

Mister Cat lived in a glen in a bungalow made of money. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Parakeet standing there, her hands on her abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Parakeet," Mister Cat trumpeted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mrs. Parakeet. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lectured Mister Cat lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," blurted Mrs. Parakeet. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," blubbered Mister Cat. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," informed Mrs. Parakeet languidly. "I heard that this horsie likes to bless spittoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Parakeet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of horsies blessing spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," breathed Mister Cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" uttered Mrs. Parakeet.

"Appoint a committee?" panted Mister Cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Parakeet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," roared Mister Cat narrowly, 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. Parakeet delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grunted Mister Cat crossly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on his front porch, looking out over the glen and raising an eyebrow. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Parakeet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," began Mrs. Parakeet despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied shakily.