Mister Siamese Cat And The New Neighbor

Mister Siamese cat lived in a jungle in a Cape Cod made of ashes. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bonbons, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Boar standing there, her hands on her thorax. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Boar," Mister Siamese cat uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," grunted Mrs. Boar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" gabbed Mister Siamese cat urgently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," wailed Mrs. Boar. I just want to ask you what you think of the zebra that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," repeated Mister Siamese cat. "I didn't know about any zebra. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," smirked Mrs. Boar zestily. "I heard that this zebra likes to get dictionaries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Boar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of zebras getting dictionaries?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Mister Siamese cat.

"What are we going to do about it?" explained Mrs. Boar.

"Appoint a committee?" muttered Mister Siamese cat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Boar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," commented Mister Siamese cat strangely, 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. Boar needlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," crooned Mister Siamese cat furiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and ruminating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Boar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," winked Mrs. Boar tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Siamese cat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cleverly.