Mister Chameleon And The New Neighbor

Mister Chameleon lived on a cliff in a studio made of pipe cleaners. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hornet standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Hornet," Mister Chameleon observed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fantasized Mister Hornet. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fumed Mister Chameleon lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," comforted Mister Hornet. I just want to ask you what you think of the louse that's come to the cliff.

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

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mister Hornet vigorously. "I heard that this louse likes to mark mousetraps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hornet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of lice marking mousetraps?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mister Hornet.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rationalized Mister Chameleon woodenly, 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 Hornet testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Mister Chameleon wildly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on his front porch, looking out over the cliff and inhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hornet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mister Hornet steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Hornet 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 ruefully.