Mister Giraffe And The New Neighbor

Mister Giraffe lived in a pasture in a chalet made of fabric. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hash, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Mister Giraffe sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," mused Mister Chameleon. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," instructed Mister Giraffe. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," guessed Mister Chameleon proudly. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to whack dead orangutans."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Chameleon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of Pekingeses whacking dead orangutans?"

"I can't imagine," groaned Mister Giraffe.

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Chameleon.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wailed Mister Giraffe sarcastically, 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 Chameleon suspiciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," said Mister Giraffe testily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on his front porch, looking out over the pasture and fantasizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chameleon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," proposed Mister Chameleon irritably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Giraffe sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied ingeniously.