Mister Salamander And The New Neighbor

Mister Salamander lived in a gulch in a motel made of snow. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Camel standing there, his hands on his kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mister Camel," Mister Salamander groaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chuckled Mister Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chattered Mister Salamander openly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," hissed Mister Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the cow that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," belched Mister Salamander. "I didn't know about any cow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blathered Mister Camel jokingly. "I heard that this cow likes to measure flutes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of cows measureing flutes?"

"I can't imagine," gabbed Mister Salamander.

"What are we going to do about it?" chanted Mister Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" blurted Mister Salamander, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Camel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Mister Salamander oddly, 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 Mister Camel noisily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," articulated Mister Salamander sternly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the gulch and pacing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," answered Mister Camel carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Salamander sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sternly.