Naila's Apartment - Morning
Naila woke up slowly, as she always did. She stretched, yawned, and shuffled toward the kitchen for her morning routine.
She stopped at the back door.
The small coop in the backyard was empty.
Naila blinked. "Where's Clucky?"
Clucky was her pet chicken. She'd had her for two years. Clucky was lazy, just like Naila. They were a perfect match.
Naila looked around. No chicken.
"Clucky?" she called out. "Where are you?"
But no response.
Naila walked outside. The coop door was open. There were feathers on the ground.
"Clucky...?"
***
Chima's Apartment - Afternoon
Chima was in her kitchen, humming happily. There was a pot on the stove, and the smell of something delicious filled the air.
Alice burst through the door. "CHIMA! What are you cooking?! It smells AMAZING!"
Chima smiled proudly. "Chicken soup. My grandma's recipe."
"Ooh! Where'd you get the chicken?"
Chima's smile froze. "Uh... from the market."
"The market?"
"Yes. The market."
Alice squinted. "Chima. You never go to the market."
"I went today."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you sweating?"
"I'm not sweating!"
"You are! You're sweating like you did something wrong!"
Chima wiped her forehead. "I'm just hot from cooking!"
"It's air-conditioned in here!"
"I run hot!"
Alice wasn't convinced. But she let it go.
***
Naila's Apartment - Evening
Naila was sitting on her couch, looking sad. Her friends had gathered around her.
"I can't find Clucky anywhere," she said quietly. "I've looked everywhere."
Chima shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe she... ran away?"
"Clucky never runs away. She's too lazy."
"Maybe someone... took her?"
"Who would take a chicken?"
Chima looked away. "I don't know."
Fatimah noticed Chima's behavior. "Chima. Is there something you want to tell us?"
Chima's face went red. "I... I..."
Naila looked up. "Chima? What is it?"
Chima took a deep breath. "Okay. I have a confession."
Everyone leaned in.
"I... I cooked Clucky."
Silence.
Naila blinked. "What?"
"I cooked her. For soup. Because chicken is expensive and I was hungry and—"
Naila stood up slowly. "You... cooked my pet chicken?"
"Technically, she wasn't a pet. She was a chicken. Chickens are for eating."
"CLUCKY WAS MY FRIEND!"
"Clucky was a chicken!"
"WITH A NAME!"
"All chickens have names if you name them!"
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJUbLQCu48
Naila was pacing back and forth. Her friends had never seen her this active.
"I can't believe this. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS."
Chima was trying to defend herself. "Naila, I'm sorry! But chicken prices are through the roof! I couldn't afford to buy one!"
"So you stole mine?!"
"I just borrowed!"
"You can't borrow a chicken! You either have it or you don't!"
"I didn't borrow the chicken. I borrowed the idea of the chicken."
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!"
Alice was trying not to laugh. "Naila, it's just a chicken."
"IT'S NOT JUST A CHICKEN! IT WAS MY CHICKEN!"
Wony stepped in. "Okay, okay. Let's all calm down."
"I AM CALM!"
"You're literally screaming."
"I'M NOT SCREAMING! I'M PASSIONATELY EXPRESSING MYSELF!"
Fatimah put a hand on Naila's shoulder. "Naila, I know you're upset. But Chima didn't mean any harm."
"She cooked my pet!"81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0O7C4EWlA
***
Chima's Apartment - Night
Chima had brought everyone over. She had prepared a new meal. This time, not chicken.
"I'm really sorry, Naila," she said quietly. "I should have asked first."
Naila was still upset. "You should have."
"I know. I was stupid. I just saw the chicken and thought... food."
"I had feelings for Clucky."
"You had feelings for a chicken?"
"YES! She was lazy, like me! We understood each other!"
Chima paused. Then she nodded. "That's... actually understandable."
Naila sighed. "I forgive you. But you owe me a new chicken."
"A new chicken?"
"Yes. A lazy one. Like Clucky."
"I'll find you the laziest chicken in the world."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
***81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoMp1aNWjq
Naila's Apartment - A Week Later81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gKXnfhkKa
Chima arrived with a small box. Inside was a fluffy, sleepy-looking chicken.
"This is Clucky Jr.," Chima announced. "She's the laziest chicken I could find."
Naila looked at the chicken. The chicken looked at her.
"She's perfect," Naila said.
"I'm really sorry about Clucky," Chima said. "I mean it."
Naila nodded. "I know. And I forgive you."
"Really?"
"Really. But if you ever cook another one of my pets, I'll cook you."
"That's... fair."
Naila smiled. "Now help me set up her coop."
"You're going to make me work?"
"Yes. As punishment."
Chima sighed. "Fine. But only because I owe you."
They worked together to set up the new coop. It took hours.
Naila was exhausted. "I can't believe I did this much work."
"Me neither," Chima agreed.
"Never again."
"Agreed."
They looked at Clucky Jr. She was already asleep in her new home.
"She's perfect," Naila repeated.
"She really is."
And for the first time in a week, Naila smiled.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbsjXpnqM5
and then Add to home screen.