“I think being here is good for Vladimir. You and your comrades seem like fine people. Sincere people. I will enjoy talking about stories with the three of you.” Vladimir said getting up to examine the volumes encompassing the living room. His yellowish eyes settled onto a copy of Fahrenheit 451. His countenance softened as his eyes glided over the novel's title. “Yes, I think this is very good for Vladimir” he finally said contentedly. 

 

“You go…”

 

“No, you!” 

 

“Stop being such a chicken!”

 

Apollo just looked at Mr.Sea blankly, wishing ever so much that he had an eyebrow to arch. 

 

“Alright, fine. Give me this heavy tray. You take those two smaller plates then finish setting the table”. Said Mr. Sea. He took one last deep breath and walked out into the living room to find Vladimir admiring the collection of books above the fireplace. 

 

“Here we are. Supper is served. Bon Appetit." Mr. Sea was just about to set the large heavy tray down on the table as Apollo trailed close behind him. 

 

“ Good evening dear sir,” Apollo said “welcome to our humble…” and before he could finish this greeting a mighty cry pierced the stillness of the early evening. It sounded as if a creature was being torn limb from limb in the jaws of a savage beast.The sounds were so distressing that it caused Mr. Sea to involuntarily toss the large heavy tray of wonderfully prepared food so high in the air, that it smacked Dash across his muzzle when it came back down. Apollo, taken aback, dropped the contents of the two smaller plates and let out a cry of his own.The two plates shattered to pieces on the floor with a loud crash.

 

It must have been only a moment or two. But, when the moment was over, Apollo, Mr. Sea and Dash, (who was still wiping sauce from his eyes) looked up to see a large, imposing Siberian tiger clinging to a crystal chandelier. 

 

The three were dumbstruck. No words could express the millions of tiny little thoughts worming their way through their minds. The three exchanged glances of surprise and confusion until finally Dash was the first to break the silence.

 

“Vladimir, are you ok?” But Vladimir did not speak. He merely clung to the chandelier for dear life, quivering like a newborn calf. 

 

“Vladimir? Um, is anything the matter?” Asked Mr. Sea. “ I notice you seem to have taken a liking to our chandelier.”

 

“Chicken! Vile chicken!” Vladimir exclaimed hurriedly, taking deep breaths in between the words. “No chicken!”

 

Mr. Sea and Dash glanced back at Apollo. There he was. A silly old chicken. Their eyes returned to Vladimir who clung for dear life and who seemed genuinely shaken by Apollo's presence. Their eyes returned back to Apollo who was just as confused as they were and let them know it with a simple shrug of his chicken shoulders.

 

“Vlad,um, listen, is there anything we can…help you with?” Dash asked, genuinely concerned and quite surprised. 

 

“Please re-move chicken from home. Please! '' Vladimir tried to compose himself while he still clung to the chandelier. “I am not fan of chicken”.

 

“Do you prefer beef?” Mr. Sea joked and looked around the room in search of approval but was instead met with two unamused faces. “Look, Vladimir, we will just take Apollo into the kitchen and we will give you some time to collect yourself and we’ll be back in a bit. Ok?”

 

“Just no chicken! “ Vladimir said as the three of them left for the kitchen. 

 

“Well, that was strange. Right?” Said Mr. Sea. His companions nodded in agreement.

“I wonder what that was all about?” Inquired Dash.

“It’s obvious,” Apollo began, “he is intimidated by me.” Mr. Sea and Dash gave each other a look.