chapter 18

In Which Jackson Is Discussed

A little red bonnet with delicate lace framed the chicken’s face. Her eye shadow was demure, her lashes just long enough, and her beak was a sparkly pink. Jackson just stared.

The chicken ruffled her feathers daintily and puffed up her chest. “I aaaaaam Miss Pottle. And I can seeeee that you desperately neeeeeed my help!” She fanned out her wings and waved them gracefully in the air.

“Um … I don’t know if I should be here,” said Jackson. “You see, I flew into this tree by accident and I’m trying to get home. So if you could just point out where …”

“Girls! Girls!” the chicken interrupted. “We have compan-eeeeee!”

There was a skittering and scratching across the floor as ten chickens hurried to the hammock and lined up evenly.

Ten chickens stared at Jackson.

Jackson backed up, looking for a way to escape.

“He certainly needs work, doesn’t heeeee?” one chicken whispered to another. She tittered and gave Jackson a look.

“No wonder he was sent to us,” agreed the second chicken.

“Who could possibly love that?” asked another, not caring to whisper. Jackson felt his cheeks burning.

“Girls!” Miss Pottle admonished. (Admonish means to scold. Scolding is something chickens do a lot.) The chicken’s feathers ruffled, puffing up, then flattened back down again, smoothing out.

“We have a boy in desperate neeeed of our expert-eeeeeese! Let’s make him more lovable, shall weeeee?”

“If you could just direct me to the nearest exit …” Jackson spluttered.

“Nonsense! You want the Author to loooove you, don’t youuuuuu?” Miss Pottle trilled. The other ten chickens clucked softly.

“Well, of course,” Jackson said, “but I’m sure if you just point …”

“This is perfectly necessary-eeeee!” Her chicken eyes looked deep into Jackson’s.

“Truuuuuust me …”