 Well, there are a few closer friendships than the one between our miss Brooks who teaches English at Madison High School and her landlady Mrs. Margaret Davis they share each other's joys and sorrows problems and secrets and one cat named Minerva Last Thursday this black beauty of the feline world was anticipating a blessed event Hence since 6 30 in the morning We had been at the vets where an over anxious Mrs. Davis had insisted on bringing Minerva By we I mean Mrs. Davis and me and our neighbors cat Timothy Do ours we've been waiting on those two hours What's taking dr. Anderson so long? Please Mrs. Davis try to calm down Even Timothy isn't as jumpy as you are You're as nervous as a cat. What is he doing here? Well, why shouldn't he be here? He's Minerva's husband Take such an interest Now dr. Anderson said he'd ring in here when he was ready. So why not sit down and take it easy? How about reading something? Well, all right Hand me a magazine Connie. Which one do you want? It doesn't make much difference the one you're chewing on will be fine Yes, I'm just a wee bit nervous myself now sit down. Mrs. Davis is very well At least the chairs are nice and soft Now where did Timothy go? You're sitting on him That cat can sleep through anything This is no time for kidding Connie. What's taking so long? Do you think everything's all right? Oh, of course, Mrs. Davis a normal litter is five kittens And dr. Anderson said Minerva might have even more I'm just quoting the doctor Timothy I Hope nothing happens to Minerva that kitty means a lot to me. She means a lot to both of us Correction she means a lot to the three of us Wonderful companion she's always been Especially when I was alone Night after night she used to sit at my feet with her ball of yarn and I'd read aloud to her by the hour I guess you must have distracted her in all that time. She never knitted one sweater Remember the cute little thing she used to do in the morning How she used to jump up on the dining room table when I brought your cereal I certainly do remember that cat could lap the milk from under my cracklies before they stopped firing I can't help feeling something's wrong All the nerve are dear my nerve are don't leave me. Oh look, Mrs. Davis Not only is Minerva not going to leave you but in a few minutes. She'll present you with so many little Minervas You won't know what to do with them that will be a problem, won't it? Yes, we can't possibly keep all of them here in our place not unless we marry the milkman. I Know a lady in my sewing circle who picked two of them. She's crazy about kittens. Which lady is that? Mrs. Katz, you'll have to help me dispose of the rest Connie Perhaps somebody at Madison would help us out. Maybe mr. Boynton would want a pet if he did. I wouldn't be single now The signal dr. Anderson finished I'll be right back Connie wait for me Well only a few minutes more Timothy and you'll know how large a family you've got I hope for the children's sake They look like Minerva Well, anyway the girls Perhaps I'm jumping the gun until we get Mrs. Davis's report. There's no sense in conjecturing Connie guess what? I'm a father He missy is you hear that Tim? You're a father Sort of an emergency Walder I had to visit the veterinarian with Mrs. Davis what you said Walder I'm willing to forget it if you are Actually, Mrs. Davis became a grandmother today a grandmother no fooling. What did he weigh about a quarter of a pound each? That's two pounds all together eight times a quarter of a pound You're not reaching me. It's like this Minerva No, what's the use you're old enough to have heard about the birds and bees, aren't you? Don't tell me Minerva gave birth to eight bees She had aren't much bigger Which brings us by way of pathetic to the subject at hand What are Mrs. Davis and I going to do with eight kittens? Well, you should have thought of that before you Can be of help there is Walder your fond of pets, aren't you? Oh sure I am then it settles You can take two of the kittens home. Yeah, well, I'd like nothing better, but how do you think they get along with wolf? Wolf yeah, my father's police dog. He's awfully vicious only listens to my father He's what they call a one-man dog. That's enough of a meal for any dog Well, my parents tried that but he chewed through four of them the muzzle is not parent We've got to consider wolf's pal who's his pal a mongoose No now but almost as bad my dad thought it would calm him down if he had a companion So he brought home a pretty bloodthirsty bulldog the other night now all in all I don't think our house is the spot for a kitten. It doesn't sound like any Shangri-La Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you try mr. Boyton? I'd love to I mean I hope you don't mind my dropping in on you before class mr. Boynham not at all miss Brooks. It's nice to have you visit my lab occasionally You'll have to excuse me for a moment while I finish feeding these rabbits go right ahead I'll bet you've never seen anyone fed with an eyedropper before not since the last time you treated for lunch I never have mr. Boynham. Open your mouth wider Come on wider still Please miss Brooks they won't eat when you're clowning like that It'll just take another minute. Well if I'm disturbing you mr. Boynham Oh, no, no, no, you're not disturbing me at all miss Brooks That's one thing about you when you're in the lab with me. I can always concentrate perfectly on whatever else I'm doing That's what I get for buying a perfume called What was it you wanted to see me about well to begin at the beginning mr. Boynham I went to the vets this morning with mrs. Davis really. I hope he didn't find anything wrong with her Guess I can get off a good one myself once in a while a miss Brooks. You got off that one too soon. It hasn't hatched yet We went to the vet because of mrs. Davis's cat Minerva what happened to her what happened to her also Happens to a dog. She had eight puppies a kitten Good grief. What are you going to do with eight kittens now? That's what I call a leading question mr. Boynham since you're so fond of pets It gives me great pleasure to offer you any two of the kittens you want Well, I'd love to take a couple of miss Brooks good then it settles as soon as they can leave their mother Let me finish. I'd love to take them, but I can't why not if you've got a blood thirsty bulldog, too No, but there's my pet frog mcdougal. He's allergic to cats. Well, I'm allergic to mcdougal You stay out of this Mac Besides kitten requires more attention I'm hardly ever in my apartment miss Brooks and well as much as I'd like to help you out It just simmers down to the simple question. What can a bachelor do? Have I got an answer for that? All right, I couldn't find a home for any of Minerva's kittens and by lunchtime I had almost exhausted my list of prospects that is all except one our beloved principal mr. Conklin Mindful of the adage you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. I decided to visit his web I mean, I went to him Bearing a large slab of his favorite dessert banana cream pie When mr. Conklin saw me in his doorway his reaction was one of pure delight Please miss Brooks, whatever you were going to do with that pie. Don't do it But mr. Conklin, I know you've been under a strain lately, but I've just had this suit cleaned and it's such a gooey pie I was just going to let you have it What I was afraid of Here I'll just set it down on your desk near the chair There see I didn't get any on you at all. I'm not out of the woods yet Probably jump into my lap after you leave Now what may I ask is the reason behind this sacrificial offering? It's merely a slight expression of my esteem for a good and kind principle if it's all the same to you I feel safer when I'm crabby mean old marble head Now what do you want miss Brooks want well surely I can make a nice gesture toward you without wanting something can't I Well, I suppose so that's better. Now. Here's what I want You see sir, Mrs. Davis and I had to go to the vets this morning really I hope he didn't find anything wrong with you Well, at least it's a twist I hope he didn't find anything wrong with you Look, we went to the vets because our cat Minerva had a little this morning. Oh, congratulations Was it a preponderance of boys or girls? Oh, we don't know yet But they're a to the cutest kitten you ever saw Minerva's so proud indeed Remind me to drop her a card on Mother's Day Now tell me miss Brooks what in heaven's name are you going to do with eight kittens? That's just the question I needed here. Mr. Conklin We can't possibly keep all those kittens So I thought you and Mrs. Conklin might take a couple off our hands. You thought what for your information miss Brooks My home is not now nor will it ever be a depot for stray felines. I am definitely anti cat Mr. Conklin And even if I weren't you have chosen the worst possible time to bring up the subject of household pets only last month I got rid of a gigantic police dog a police dog My wife had taken a fancy to the brute by for weeks. She spent every evening with him in our living room Where did you spend yours on top of the piano? What a vicious beast he was even his name made me nervous wolf wolf But I know a wolf Keep your private affairs to yourself The the only reason I permitted the animal to enter my house was because of my wife Someone told her the previous owner had been mean to the creature and that's all she needed My wife falls for every sob story she hears about animals. She must be awfully tender-headed hearted Here's indeed the last few years. We've had a steady procession of parrots canaries goldfish monkeys and dogs Why we even harbored a small deer at one time a deer. How did she happen to take that? Someone told her he'd sprained his ankle falling out of a tree But to get back to the latest monster I got rid of wolf by presenting him to the father of one of my pet peeves Walter Denton yes, I know Sometimes I can picture them both in the backyard together and I conjure up a rather delightful vision a Vision we're in one of them slips his leash and they clash But enough of the animal world you'll have to work out Excuse me daddy, but it's important. Oh, what is it Harriet? The school custodian wants to see you right away. One of the furnace pipes is Harriet don't get so close to the desk, but he says it's urgent daddy and watch out for that pie. Oh, oh There's no damage sir. Luckily it fell on this old rag on the chair That old rag happens to be my top coat. I Knew you'd get me sooner or later But it wasn't this book for daddy quiet collaborator Now come on lead me to the trouble spot you stay here and take any incoming phone calls miss Brooke But sir, what about my lunch? You'll find a delicious piece of banana pie on the second button of that coat Everything in this school is my own two-handed I have to do everything in this school my own two-handed doesn't get what a sour ball Really. Oh, well, we can't all be Hello Yes, Mrs. Davis Me the mrs. Davis, but I think I've got my dear good Before you tell me what it is Connie the funniest thing happened when I spoke to the chairwoman of the ladies aid about our dilemma What was it? Well with Connie Brooks and then she said really? I hope he didn't find anything wrong with her completed the cycle But mrs. Davis through mr. Conklin I think I've picked up a clue that may solve our problem That is if walter and harriett and mr. Boynton cooperate Now here's the scheme you bring the nerve and the kittens down to the side entrance of maverick's right after school Mr. Conklin isn't back from school yet miss Brooks, but you can wait for him right here in his study Thanks, mrs. Conklin. I'll just put this basket down Oh there It's pretty heavy It looks like a laundry basket with a pillow slip over it. That's what it is a laundry basket with a pillow slip over it I see Going to drop it off on your way home. I wish I could No, I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. I don't understand What's in the basket in the basket? Oh nothing much nothing worth meowing about I say nothing worth meowing about See that basket. Why why there's a caddion here and a kitten and another kitten and another kitten keep going. I'll wait Who's caddy is this miss brook? She belongs to someone who lives very close to us mrs. Conklin But I'd rather not burden you with a whole heartbreaking and pathetic story What story no mrs. Conklin you've got enough troubles of your own Oh, please miss brooks. What troubles have I got? Let's just mr. Conklin to look after see what I mean No, I wouldn't want you to know that the neighbor to whom these little creatures belong used to beat their mother every day He used to beat her not only that but he made her work for him Every night when he cleaned out his furnace he tied a cart to her and made her haul the ashes outside That cat worked like a dog mrs. Conklin How terrible but but how did she manage to have these kittens they look like they were just born it was her first day off in a month That's why I picked them up out of the driveway where he left them How could anyone be so cruel he practices a lot I asked mrs. Davis if we might keep them but our place is so small. It's out of the question But what are you going to do with them return them to our neighbor? I guess at least they'll be fed while they're getting beaten Oh, I I'd give anything if I could keep them here. It's a deal I'm afraid mr. Conklin wouldn't stand for it not after the experience he went through with our police dog wolf Honestly, sometimes I think mr. Conklin was jealous of him wolf probably bark louder It was only some way I could keep them. Oh forget it mrs. Conklin Why should you concern yourself over the horrible fate that's inevitable for these tiny little innocent kittens who've never harmed anyone I'll just take them and return them. Wait. I will keep them I'll just have to refrain from telling ours good about it until he's in a really gay mood They'll be old cats by then Now let's see if they're comfortable Oh, they look a little cramped in that basket I'll just put this pillow slip on the desk and rest some of them on that Come on kitty Now you too Now don't you worry mama. I won't hurt your baby I'll just put two more on the desk and we'll all be more comfy. Won't we I feel better already Oh, no quick put the big cat in the basket behind the couch be with you in a minute dear What about those kittens on the desk? I'll put them in these drawers. They're nice and roomy. Thank goodness There there now everything's out of sight keep your fingers crossed as soon as they stop shaking Well, yeah, I've had quite a trying day at school. Good afternoon, mr. Conklin and I can see it hasn't ended What are you doing here miss Brooke? Oh, uh, I invited her over to have tea with us are good I uh, I thought that would be nice tea. Where is the tea? It's in this we couldn't wait No, we uh, we felt a bit weak we we've all had a rather hard day, dear And I'll go along with that now if you'll both excuse me. I've got some things to do at my desk before dinner Things to do at your desk before dinner You must be weak it takes two of you to hold up one sentence But all good It isn't good for you to get to work as soon as you come home You you've been under a most grueling pressure for the past eight hours. Yes indeed, sir You have no idea how much that sitting around all day takes out of you I mean, uh Sitting around and making decisions is no sin Why why don't you go into the living room and uh, sprawl out on the couch and take a nice nap for about 10 hours You know what the doctors say there's nothing like a cat nap to me. Why don't I just shut up? That's the best suggestion you've made in months Now please pardon me, but I've got to jot down some notes. Let's see my pencils must be in this drawer here Oh dear, it's always so cluttered up better take this blotter out first Then I'll remove these two furry black paper weights Now this carbon paper can go. Oh just as I thought here are my pencils, right? Furry black paper weight What are these two kittens doing in the top drawer of my desk? You ain't seen nothing yet All good calm down. I can explain Now you might as well open the next drawer the next drawer There are two more kittens in here God the place is infested with them Some desks have termites yours has kittens And now once again here is to conklin soon put two and two together Then I took the four of them and put them back in the basket with their mother Even though I had told her a rather large fizz mrs. Conklin was quick to forgive After all ours good miss brooks is only guilty of wanting to find a home for these eight helpless kittens granted And I'll be more than happy to suspend her sentence if she will immediately collect her mulling Mousers and marks Well, I guess there's nothing else I can do of course mrs. Conklin I was hoping someone could keep them at least until they're old enough to be torn from their mother's side Oh, I'd love to Oh, good. Don't you think there's not another word mother in the months that masters on wolf was under this roof My nervous system had all the path it could stand Mother I broke out of the Denton's backyard and he's on our front porch this very minute. Well, what's he doing there? Well, when I left him he just eaten up half the welcome mat Oh the poor deer. I hope it doesn't dull his fangs He just won't stay at the Denton's daddy I think he wants to come back and live with us. I couldn't stand it not for another minute You've got to get rid of him. Somebody's got to take him away. Mr. Conklin I'll make you a proposition if you let mrs. Conklin keep the kittens here. I'll take wolf home with me What's that if we keep the kittens you will remove that dinosaur from the premises Yes, sir. What do you say? Mrs. Conklin and thanks for everything Good life is booked and thank you job of barking. Oh, just perfect, mr. Boy You were very convincing then they're going to keep the kitten They certainly are and now the least I can do is keep my end of the bargain What do you mean, mr. Brooks? Come on wolf. We're going home