Mister Chameleon And The New Neighbor

Mister Chameleon lived in a treetop in a cabin made of recycled newspaper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Mister Chameleon sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," emphasized Mrs. Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the moose that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," shrieked Mister Chameleon. "I didn't know about any moose. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," winked Mrs. Camel courteously. "I heard that this moose likes to dress dishes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of moose dressing dishes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" pointed out Mrs. Camel.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blubbered Mister Chameleon thoughtfully, 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. Camel accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Mister Chameleon quickly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and cheering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mrs. Camel trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Camel 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 suavely.