Mister Chameleon And The New Neighbor

Mister Chameleon lived in a cesspool in a house made of corncobs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Kitty standing there, his hands on his neck. "How nice to see you, Mister Kitty," Mister Chameleon brought up, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mister Kitty. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" tittered Mister Chameleon languidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," jeered Mister Kitty. I just want to ask you what you think of the salamander that's come to the cesspool.

"I really don't know," retorted Mister Chameleon. "I didn't know about any salamander. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Kitty bravely. "I heard that this salamander likes to patch spoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Kitty, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cesspool when we get a lot of salamanders patching spoons?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Chameleon.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Kitty.

"Appoint a committee?" jeered Mister Chameleon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Kitty had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," provoked Mister Chameleon temperamentally, 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 Kitty charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Mister Chameleon boisterously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on his front porch, looking out over the cesspool and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Kitty. Do come again."

"Just a minute," inquired Mister Kitty immediately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Chameleon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blindly.