For previous editions, go here.

At Mrs. Adam’s announcement, chaos exploded.  Junior League members leaped to their feet, screaming.   Several elegant men and women began to to squabble and bicker like teenagers while a few of the larger women began to sweep pastries and appetizers into their purses, glancing about back and forth furtively.

Suddenly, Mr. Pemberely strode forward, his yellow eyes blazing through his mask.  “She did it!  She stole the Zarina elephant!  And she kidnapped Max.  Where is my Max?”  His voice rose, booming over the terrified chattering of the crowd.

The crowd whirled around, glaring at Birdie.  “Where is it?”  Mrs. Adams demanded, stomping her foot like a child.  “Where is it?”

Alone on the stage, Percy shifted back and forth, his hat slipping over.  As the crowd started toward him, he backed closer and closer to the curtain.

“Where is the elephant?” Mrs. Adams shouted, waving her arms.  “This is bad luck!  You’re ruining the good luck the elephant of Zarina brought to our town!”

“You’re ruining everything!” Mr. Pemberely shouted, his composure slipping as much as his mask.  “You’re ruining my plans too”–  He stopped, swallowing his words.

“Ruining what?”  Birdie turned and the crowd gasped.  For Birdie’s eyes were not the eyes of a junior high girl.  They were the eyes of an old woman, a child, a spirit…and glowing yellow.  Overhead, the wind howled as leaves swirled around the feet of the guests.

“Ruined the lives of animals?” Birdie shouted, her voice not her own.  Instead, a deeper voice, an older, more powerful voice, a old woman’s voice; that voice addressed the silent crowd, gaping at her in fear and shocked respect.  “Ruined the life of my tribe, of people all over the country?  Ruined the souls of innocent animals, trapping them in your room and turning them into experiments?”

“No, no!”  Mr. Pemberely shook his head, the mask falling to the ground with the clatter.   The crowd gasped, a space appearing around him as people leaped back at his strange face.  “You don’t understand.  I want to help them!  I want to give them a home!  I want to be their friend!  I want to show them love, acceptance!”  His eyes narrowed.  “I want to give them what you never gave me!” he spat.  “I want to give them what you promised me!”

“And that’s why you go from town to town, collecting animals,” the old woman roared through Birdie.  “You collect souls like a theif!  The souls of nature, the purest souls of all!  The souls of animals!  And to fund it, you turn lonely people into freaks!”

“I give them the gift I’ve always dreamed of!  The gift of being free!” Mr. Pemberely screamed.  “That’s what I was going to give Zarina, and all the animals here!  But you had to spoil it!”

“Your dog Max spoiled it for all of us!” Birdie shouted as the wind roared around her.  “He spoiled it with his greed, with his cruel dreams!  And you spoiled it for yourself, letting your own doubts and fears ruin the lives of hundreds!”  The yellow eyes narrowed as the wind howled, the leaves slamming against the terrified guests like foliage bullets.  “But now, Pemberely, you will pay.  You will pay.”

After that, everything became a swirling mass of confusion and chaos.  Birdie’s mother screamed as Detective Michaels roared, “Mr. Pemberely, you’re under arrest…”  Cameras flashed as Mr. O’Neil shouted questions and Mrs. Adams fainted…

But for Birdie, none of it made sense.  Because for Birdie, the world had gone black.

Stay tuned for the final edition of the Perilous Tales of the Pemberely Pet Shop, which will appear Nov. 3 after Halloween Week!  Tomorrow, we have a delectable fall recipe and Friday, a new Butterfly Dress!

In the mood for Halloween?  Check out our new Halloween story on Saturday!  Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!

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