Mister Buffalo And The New Neighbor

Mister Buffalo lived on a peninsula in a condominium made of lace. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Oyster standing there, her hands on her little toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Oyster," Mister Buffalo imitated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," comforted Mrs. Oyster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" acknowledged Mister Buffalo sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," announced Mrs. Oyster. I just want to ask you what you think of the chameleon that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," persisted Mister Buffalo. "I didn't know about any chameleon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," remarked Mrs. Oyster slyly. "I heard that this chameleon likes to spin candles."

"Um, I don't know what to say," boomed Mister Buffalo, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Oyster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of chameleons spinning candles?"

"I can't imagine," boasted Mister Buffalo.

"What are we going to do about it?" observed Mrs. Oyster.

"Appoint a committee?" decided Mister Buffalo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Oyster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," burbled Mister Buffalo ignobly, 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. Oyster nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Mister Buffalo anxiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the peninsula and sighing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Oyster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mrs. Oyster sympathetically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Buffalo thought he had answered, and was beginning to get ambitious. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Oyster doing these days?"

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

Mister Buffalo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied menacingly.