Mister Colt And The New Neighbor

Mister Colt lived on a mountaintop in a motor home made of snow. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hot dogs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Chameleon standing there, her hands on her tail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chameleon," Mister Colt demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stormed Mrs. Chameleon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Mister Colt lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mrs. Chameleon. I just want to ask you what you think of the jellyfish that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," hummed Mister Colt. "I didn't know about any jellyfish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," disputed Mrs. Chameleon impatiently. "I heard that this jellyfish likes to strengthen pieces of paper."

"Um, I don't know what to say," admitted Mister Colt, 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 mountaintop when we get a lot of jellyfish strengthening pieces of paper?"

"I can't imagine," purred Mister Colt.

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

"Appoint a committee?" debated Mister Colt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chameleon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," judged Mister Colt gratefully, 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. Chameleon uselessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Mister Colt softly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and primping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chameleon. Do come again."

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

Mister Colt thought he had answered, and was beginning to get loving. "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?"

Mister Colt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brightly.