To read the previous editions, go here.

“Vet school?” Frankie repeated, her eyes wide.  “He’s been demented that long?”

“I’m telling the story here,” Percy snapped.  “Anyway, when he was a”–

Suddenly, the steel door burst open.  In the shadows, Mr. Pemberely’s yellow eyes glowed.  “Hello?  Who’s there?”

“Hide,” Percy hissed, shoving the girls behind a tall rack of hamster cages.  “When I go in the other room, run out the front door of the shop.  It’s open.”

“It’s open?” Frankie repeated, glaring at Birdie.  “You mean we could have just walked in?  We didn’t have to sneak around and”–

“Hello?” Mr. Pemberely called.  “Who’s there?”

“It’s just me, Mr. Pemberely!”  Percy’s hoarse voice cracked.

“Percy?”  The yellow eyes narrowed in the shadows.  “What are you doing here?  I thought you went home.”

“I did, well, I was sir,” Percy stuttered.  “But I forgot my–er–watch, and I thought I best come back and get it…”

“So you wouldn’t be late in the morning,” Birdie whispered as Percy bobbed his head.

“So you–I mean I–wouldn’t be late in the morning,” Percy repeated, his cheeks turning pink.

The yellow eyes stared at him for a moment, the slitted black pupils narrowing to a thin line.  “Percy, why are you acting so strange?”

Percy’s eyes flicked toward Birdie.  She shrugged.  Frankie buried her face in her hands and shook her head.

“It’s a girl, sir,” Percy stuttered, his cheeks flaming now.  “You see, I was just”–

“Say no more, my dear boy!” Mr. Pemberely boomed, his laughter ringing out through the quiet store.  The tiny hyenas cackled along with him in shrill bursts.  Many of the dogs pawed at their ears and the kittens hissed at the sound.

“I was young once,” Mr. Pemberely continued.  The hair on Birdie’s neck rose as Sassy began to growl.  “I understand these things.  While you’re here, my dear boy, come and look at my newest development.  I think you’ll find it quite…interesting.”  He chortled, the yellow eyes disappearing into the dark room.

Percy remain rooted to the floor, a ridiculous smile frozen to his face.  He waited a moment then whispered without turning his head, “Meet me at the bench under the magnolia tree in the park.  I’ll tell you the story there.”  With his back curved even lower, he scurried into the dark room after Mr. Pemberely.  The door slammed shut with a metallic bang.

“I can’t believe the front door was open the entire time!” Frankie slammed her elbow into Birdie’s ribs as she struggled to her feet.  Glaring at her back, Birdie pushed herself up with one hand, clutching Sassy’s leash in the other.

“How was I supposed to know that?” she hissed, rushing to the front door as Sassy ran after her.  She glanced down, her brow furrowed.  “What happens if some of the animals get out?”

Frankie shrugged.  “Apparantly they come and go as they please.  I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Birdie nodded and jerked the door open.  Just as she had suspected, several dogs and kittens trailed out, followed by a few foolish and curious parakeets and hamsters.  The three ran down the sidewalk, glancing around as shadows danced under the streetlights.  Finally, out of breath and red-faced, they collapsed on the bench.

“So, as I was saying”–

Frankie screamed and Birdie grabbed Sandy.  A pale curved figure scurried out of the shadows, waving his hands.  “It’s just me!  Percy!  Don’t scream!”

“How did you get here before we did?” Frankie panted, holding her chest.  “We ran.”

“I ran faster.”  Percy shrugged.  “Do you want to hear the story or not?  You were smart to release those animals.  Mr. Pemberely sent me after them.  But he’ll expect me to return soon, so I can’t stay long.”

“I thought animals could come and go as they pleased,” Birdie said, her voice suspicious.

Percy shrugged.  “Apparently, not tonight.  I don’t make the rules, I just follow them.  Do you want to hear the story or not?”

“That’s a stupid question.”  Birdie snorted.  Percy stared at her blankly and she rolled her eyes.  “We would love to hear the story.  Please tell it.”

Percy’s large head bobbed up and down.  “Anyway, during vet school Mr. Pemberely wasn’t very popular.  He had a lot of strange theories and beliefs, and was quite a loner.  So he spent a lot of time in the lab, doodling around.  One day, he got an idea.  He wondered that if animal parts, like pig hearts and such could be used in medicine for humans, if human attributes like singing and language and personality could be put in animals.  And if animal attributes, like smell or sight, could be given to humans through a chemical enhancer.”

“Oh God,” Birdie whispered.  Frankie buried her face in her hands for a second time.   Sassy growled, her tiny white teeth gleaming in the moonlight.

“Rather than work on cadavers, Mr. Pemberely decided to try the experiments himself….” Percy trailed off.  “The scientific explanation is really complicated and difficult to understand…”

“Summarize, please,” Birdie instructed, as though she were a teacher dealing with a remedial student.

“Essentially, Mr. Pemberely tried to recreate the chemical attributes of personality with the attributes of an animal’s personality, like a cat’s ability to land on it’s feet or a dog’s smell.  Unfortunately, he got the chemicals mixed up in the lab.  He injected the animals with a placebo and himself with the animal chemicals.  But what he didn’t expect was not only would he gain the animal’s attributes, but it’s features.”  His mouth thinned into a line.  “That’s what he wants to do with his pet shop.  He wants to create a world of pets that have feelings, personalities, languages, arts, sports….like little miniature humans.”

“We already knew that,” Birdie said impatiently.  “We know he was crazy.”

Percy’s eyes bored into them.  “But did you know he wants them to turn humans into animals like him?”

Frankie sputtered, “He can’t do that!  It’s ridiculous.  How is a tiny elephant going to give me a dog’s sense of smell?”

“A tiny elephant can’t,” Percy pointed out.  “A big one can.”

Birdie narrowed her eyes.  “I don’t like the way you said that.”

Percy shook his head.  “Didn’t you wonder what he was doing here?  Isn’t it obvious?”

“You can’t create an elephant,” Frankie snorted.  “I don’t care how good of a chemist you are.”

“No, but the man owns a pet shop where animals roam without a cage, with distinct personalities and that can be seen and not seen,” Birdie mused, eyeing Percy.  “He’s got a plan, doesn’t he?  A bigger plan than the shop.”

Percy nodded, his face solemn.  “A much bigger plan.”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  Tomorrow we have a new recipe and Friday, a new Dallas Jean!  Then more whimsical fun this weekend!  Stay tuned!