Miss Chameleon And The New Neighbor

Miss Chameleon lived in a cave in an igloo made of plywood. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" conversed Miss Chameleon thoughtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," breathed Mister Goblin. I just want to ask you what you think of the walrus that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," harangued Miss Chameleon. "I didn't know about any walrus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," crooned Mister Goblin lickety-split. "I heard that this walrus likes to clean coat hangers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goblin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of walruses cleaning coat hangers?"

"I can't imagine," continued Miss Chameleon.

"What are we going to do about it?" squealed Mister Goblin.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boasted Miss Chameleon sourly, 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 Goblin silently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blubbered Miss Chameleon blissfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on her front porch, looking out over the cave and getting frazzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goblin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mister Goblin sarcastically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chameleon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied again.