Senate Committee Divides Over Unannounced Therapy Llama in Capitol Cafeteria

An unexpected therapy llama calmly trotting into the Senate cafeteria yesterday has prompted a quiet yet persistent disagreement between Rick Hannigan, a Capitol janitor, and Penelope Morris, the Deputy Chief of Scheduling for Senator Bledsoe.

Rick Hannigan was the first to encounter the animal, who had been munching serenely on a lettuce display. "This isn't exactly in my cleaning manual," Rick commented, eyeing the llama with a mop in hand, a look of determination on his face.

His main concern was the mess the llama could cause, which might upset the routine he had diligently maintained for nearly a decade.

Meanwhile, Penelope Morris has taken a different view of the situation. She argued that the llama provided a much-needed stress release amidst the ongoing budget discussions.

"These kinds of animals have calming effects," she noted, suggesting that a peaceful environment could lead to more productive meetings. Her immediate challenge was convincing her colleagues that a llama fit seamlessly with the Capitol's daily proceedings.

The situation reached a mild boiling point when Hannigan mustered the courage to escort the llama out. Penelope intervened, waving a spreadsheet that claimed 'groundbreaking therapeutic benefits', which the llama allegedly offered according to a dubious study she somehow acquired.

This disagreement escalated to the point where Senator Bledsoe himself had to intervene. When asked, he shrugged and mentioned scheduling a vote on whether llamas should be free to roam the Capitol.

The entire cafeteria waited quietly as Bledsoe's legislative assistant clarified the rules of animal conduct.

In an unexpected turn, it became clear that the janitor's handbook had been updated just last week, allowing for 'comfort animals' as part of a new program Hannigan had overlooked. His mop fell to his side as he stared at the llama contently chewing a worksheet left on the table.

Meanwhile, Penelope's sigh of relief was short-lived when she realized Bledsoe's new amendment meant she was now responsible for the animal's maintenance, including daily walks up and down the Capitol's grand stairs. In accepting the llama, Penelope had unwittingly added a peculiar line to her not-so-distant job description.