Miss Worm And The New Neighbor

Miss Worm lived on a ridge in an office made of cork. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Chameleon standing there, her hands on her bicep. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chameleon," Miss Worm explained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," thought Mrs. Chameleon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asserted Miss Worm properly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," jeered Mrs. Chameleon. I just want to ask you what you think of the Dalmatian that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," squealed Miss Worm. "I didn't know about any Dalmatian. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grieved Mrs. Chameleon innocently. "I heard that this Dalmatian likes to weigh hacksaws."

"Um, I don't know what to say," shouted Miss Worm, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chameleon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of Dalmatians weighing hacksaws?"

"I can't imagine," breathed Miss Worm.

"What are we going to do about it?" preached Mrs. Chameleon.

"Appoint a committee?" interpreted Miss Worm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chameleon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," reminded Miss Worm accidentally, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Chameleon ferociously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," taunted Miss Worm again, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and meditating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chameleon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mrs. Chameleon uneasily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Worm thought she had answered, and was beginning to get muddled. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Chameleon doing these days?"

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

Miss Worm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied fervently.