Dilemma

Chris stood before the golden dragon doors, hesitating. It had been a week since had last visited the pet shop and his head was swimming with conflicting thoughts. He carefully pushed the doors open and walked inside. Inside Honlon was standing by a back wall in front of an ornate glass-paned curio cupboard. She turned to him with a faint gasp.

"Hi Chris," said Junrei shyly. Chris walked across the length of the room.

(Hi Junrei.)

Chris turned and saw that the doll and the plastic hammer sat side by side on a middle shelf, nestled between expensive vases. He blinked in confusion a bit as he turned to regard Shuko. She just smiled at him mysteriously as she curled up on the couch, her arm draped across the back.

"What can we do for you Chris?" she inquired. He sat heavily next to her.

(I don't know what to do. I'm wondering if I was wrong to ask for the key.)

"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Shuko reassuringly, "We bear some responsibility for your predicament." Chris smiled at her.

(That's not true. This is what I wished for.)

"So why'd you ask for that dumb key?" demanded Kanan irritably. Chris stayed silent for a long time before answering.

(The door felt cold and I heard an eerie crying sound. I wanted to see what kind of pet lived in such a cold and lonely place.)

"I was cold and lonely once;" whispered Junrei softly, "But then I met someone special." Chris looked at her in shock.

(Who was that?)

"It's a secret," she said as she leaned against his shoulder. Chris scratched his head in embarrassment.

(So what should I do?)

"You should go back," suggested Junrei.

"No, you should just forget about it," chimed in Kanan.

"Do what you feel is right," added Shuko. Chris stared at Honlon and nodded thoughtfully.

(I want to finish what I started. I'll go back one more time.)

"It's your funeral," groused Kanan. Honlon began yanking on her own hair.

"Oh stop it already Kanan," said Shuko in exasperation. Chris stood up.

(Thanks for everything guys!)

The sisters watched him run down the hall to the doors and leave.

"Be safe Chris," said Juinrei hopefully.

Chris found the door and padlock the same as he had left it. He unlocked the door and made his way carefully through the ice cavern, ducking under particularly low icicles and soon emerged, blinking, into the sunlight. He wasn't quite prepared for the sight. The snow was melting, running down the sides of the mountain in cold rivulets. Patches of emerald grass were exposed and he could even make out a few alpine flowers sprouting up on the slope. The air was warmer to the point he felt overdressed in the scarf and mittens. He carefully pulled them off and stuck them in his jacket. The house looked unchanged, still nestled in its hollow. He tromped up to the door and reached for the handle, but a sound stopped him dead in his tracks.

It was the wailing sound he had heard through the hallway door the first time. He recognized it now as Clothilde's voice. Chris gently pushed the door open and walked inside. Clothilde sat the corner of the room, her head buried in her arms, which rested on her knees. Her hair was in wild disarray and her whole body shuddered convulsively with each sob. Chris reached out and touched her sleeve. She screamed and jumped back against the wall.

"Ah, Mon Dieu!" she cried hoarsely. She stared at Chris wildly for a moment before recognition dawned on her face.

"Christopher?" she said in a raspy whisper, "Is that you?" Chris nodded fearfully. She fell on her knees and held out her arms.

"I am sorry I scared you," she said, "Pardonnez-moi" Chris quickly ran into her embrace. Tears fell on his face as she held onto like she was drowning.

(Why are you crying mother?)

He felt a cold shiver through his spine when he realized what he had just said. Tears began to fill his eyes and he buried his head against her neck. She patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Spring will be here soon," she whispered, "And the pain in my heart is thawing like that snow outside." Chris looked up at her.

(What pain?)

"For all my lost children," she said, "Sacrificed to my master." Chris felt his blood chill.

(What do you mean by sacrificed?)

"My master was a farmer and he needed the eggs I laid to feed his family," she explained, "All of them are gone."

(That's terrible!)

"Do not think too harshly of him," she said touching Chris' cheek lightly, "He would have starved if he hadn't taken my eggs."

(So what did you do?)

"I tried to protect my brood, but he was too strong," she said with a deep sigh, "When I became barren he had no more use for me, so I was sold."

(And the Count bought you?)

She nodded sullenly. Chris wished he could do something to ease her pain, but nothing seemed appropriate. All the words felt hollow.

"I tried to shut away the pain and the world outside," she said eventually, "But a kind young boy and his friends brought it all back." Chris felt horrified.

(I'm so sorry Clothilde! I didn't mean to hurt you!)

"Do not be my son," she said reassuringly, "I was being foolish hiding here like a hermit." Chris stood up and took her hand.

(Then let's get out of here!)

She stared at him dubiously and then reluctantly got to her feet. She smiled consolingly as she pulled out a white cotton hankerchief and wiped away Chris' tears.

"It is too late for me Chris," she said as her smile faded, "I'll just be hurt again if I leave." Chris tugged at her hand more urgently. She sighed deeply and let him pull her towards the door. When they got outside she shielded her eyes from the glare with her hand.

"I don't know about this," she stated. Chris frowned stubbornly and pulled again firmly on her hand. Hand in hand, they made their way up the mountain.

Leon tromped through the backrooms of the pet shop, looking for Chris in a leisurely, haphazard way. He wished for once the kid would stop getting lost like this. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Chris standing at the far end of the corridor holding a jet black hen in his arms. The bright red comb on top her head splayed out in a series of thin spikes.

"There you are kiddo!" he said, "What you got there?" Chris looked up at him puzzled as the chicken cackled nervously.

"Clothilde is an Appenzell Hooded hen," lectured the Count from as shadowy doorway, making Leon jump.

"What the hell does that mean?" demanded Leon.

"She's a Swiss hen," stated the Count wearily.

"So where's the partridge in a pear tree?" countered Leon with a guffaw. The Count put a hand to his face and looked ill.

"I think I have some business to discuss with your younger brother," said the Count after regaining his composure, "Could you excuse us?"

"Take your freaking time," said Leon sullenly as he lit a cigarette.

The Count led Chris and Clothilde into his office. He stood behind the desk and pulled out a rolled piece of parchment.

"It's nice to see you again," said the Count to Clothilde. She bowed her head formally to him.

"Greetings Count," she said in a subdued tone.

"So, Chris," said the Count, "What do you think of her?" Chris smiled up at her shyly.

(She's a really nice person.)

"She may be nice," said the Count as he crossed from behind his desk, "But she is not a person." He stood behind her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "This is a hen."

(A hen?)

"Yes, she is a very rare specimen," he elaborated, "You never find ones of her breed with pure black feathers anymore." Chris looked simply confused.

"Don't worry, I am still the Clothilde you know," she said to Chris with a sad smile.

(Well, if you say so.)

"Chris, is she to your liking?" inquired the Count. He scuffed his shoe on the carpet and nodded bashfully.

"Clothilde, would you reconsider your feelings on being sold again?" asked the Count. She regarded him with a mixture of hope and fear.

"I would…but only to this boy," she stated haltingly. The Count breathed a faint sigh of relief as he took a seat behind the desk.

"Then I'll read to you the terms of the contract," he said as he unrolled the parchment. Chris put his hands on the desktop and gulped.

(You're selling her to me?)

"Yes, it seems to be the reasonable course of action," he replied, "Since you seem well suited for each other." Chris wildly fished through his pockets and began placing nickels and dimes on the tabletop. The Count held up a hand.

"No Chris," stated the Count firmly, "Another has volunteered to pay for her on your behalf."

(Another? Who?)

"Let's just call it a secret admirer," said the Count with an enigmatic grin, "Several, really." Chris took a few moments to let this all sink in. Deliberately he retrieved his change and pocketed it again.

(I can't buy her Count.)

"Is she unsatisfactory in some way?" asked the Count glancing at Clothilde, who was beginning to sniffle quietly. Chris shook his head vigorously.

(No, but I don't want to be her master; I want to be her friend.)

Clothilde scooped him up and embraced him fiercely.

"Of course Chris," she said relieved, "I will be there whenever you need me."

(You're squeezing me too tight!)

"Sorry," she said as she loosened her grip. Clothilde set Chris down again and kissed his forehead.

"You must go," she said, "Your brother's waiting." Chris fished out the key and held it out to her. She took his hand and curled it into a fist.

(But I want you to have it!)

"This is your key now Chris," she explained, "But I will leave the door open from now on." He nodded and ran out into the front room, where Leon was waiting, who ruffled his brother's hair as they walked out onto the street. Clothilde put a hand to her chest and sighed.

"Go and swim my son," she said, "Don't be afraid of the water."

"What was that?" inquired the Count. She smiled to him and bowed formally.

"Nothing Count," she mused, "I was just thinking about ducklings." She walked through the curtain of beads and nearly collided with Pon-chan.

"Clothilde!" she gasped, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm a pet in a pet shop my dear," said Clothilde helpfully.

"Is the brat gone?" demanded T-chan as he strolled in. He gulped slightly when he saw Clothilde.

"He has left without supper," she said, "But I can fix something for you children." Pon-chan and T-chan exchanged a knowing glance.

"Yes mother," they said.