Mister Chameleon And The New Neighbor

Mister Chameleon lived on a mountainside in a yurt made of sod. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" answered Mister Chameleon crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a dose of cod liver oil?"

"I can't stay," whined Mrs. Mule. I just want to ask you what you think of the hermit crab that's come to the mountainside.

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

"Well don't be so sure," intoned Mrs. Mule sweetly. "I heard that this hermit crab likes to uncover napkins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mule, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of hermit crabs uncovering napkins?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" simpered Mrs. Mule.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," reacted Mister Chameleon boldly, 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. Mule lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screeched Mister Chameleon primly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and passing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mule. Do come again."

"Just a minute," howled Mrs. Mule shakily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Mule 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 effortlessly.