Miss Unicorn And The New Neighbor

Miss Unicorn lived beside a creek in a cardboard box made of linen. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Chameleon standing there, his hands on his ear. "How nice to see you, Mister Chameleon," Miss Unicorn added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mister Chameleon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" began Miss Unicorn kindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," clarified Mister Chameleon. I just want to ask you what you think of the squirrel that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," opined Miss Unicorn. "I didn't know about any squirrel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," responded Mister Chameleon strangely. "I heard that this squirrel likes to swirl stones."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Chameleon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of squirrels swirling stones?"

"I can't imagine," shouted Miss Unicorn.

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mister Chameleon.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Miss Unicorn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Chameleon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spouted Miss Unicorn bravely, 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 Mister Chameleon dubiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," divulged Miss Unicorn anxiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on her front porch, looking out over the creek and doodling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chameleon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mister Chameleon deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Unicorn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.