Chapter 5

Ever since Popuri received the news from her mother, she spends the majority of the time locked up in her room. It is hard for her to accept the fact that she has to let her chickens go. Rather than spending time with them, Popuri watches them from her bedroom window. It breaks her heart as she watches them looking around for her. All she can do is pray that they stay in the ranch just long enough to lay eggs of their own. Popuri plans to hatch their eggs and raise the next generation.

As Popuri watches and prays, a young stranger arrives at Mineral Town. An animal dealer who is wearing what most people would call a "black cowboy suit". Black jeans, black button up shirt, and a black cowboy hat. He also wears a brown vest, boots, and tool belt. A cream colored bandanna is tied around his neck, and black gloves completes the look. His hair is bleach white and his eyes are violet. A rare and unique look for someone so young.

The young stranger finds a local resident and asks, "excuse me, I'm looking for the poultry ranch. Can you tell me the way?" The resident nods and gives him directions to Popuri's house.

He knocks on the door once he arrives at the chicken ranch. Lillia answers and allows the stranger in the house. Popuri also hears the door, so she comes out of the room to see what is going on. She sees the stranger and her mother talking to each other.

"Can I help you?" asked Lillia.

The stranger tilts his hat and answers, "good day miss. I hear that you supply the best hens around these parts. I came to purchase some of your finest birds."

"Oh, I see. Welcome to our ranch, I'll be glad to show you what we have," answered Lillia.

"NO!!!" screamed Popuri making a scene. "Please don't take my babies! I'm begging you!"

Before she has a chance to say anything else, Rick rushes over and pulls Popuri back to her room. Popuri tries her best to struggle and yell, but Rick is able to hide her in time before she interrupts her mother.

The stranger look at Lillia with a confused expression, "what just happened?"

Lillia giggles nervously and answers, "nothing, just a little family quarrel. Please follow me to the coop Mr. . . I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. I'm Lillia, and you are?"

"Vaughn, call me Vaughn."

After their introductions, Vaughn is taken to the coop so that he may inspect Popuri's chickens. He picks them up, checks their health; he is very impressed at the condition of the birds. "Hmmmm. . . Great health. . . Very happy and friendly. . . Well defined combs and feathers. These are the best kept hens I have ever seen in my life. And I have seen a lot of hens in my travels."

"Yes. . . " Lillia says sadly. Vaughn’s praises are for the chickens Popuri herself raised, she begins to second guess her decision as she says, "those hens were raised with a lot of love and affection."

"I'll take them! You'll see that I pay well for top quality birds. My customer will be very satisfied!"

"I see. . . ," said Lillia sighing. Even though she is rethinking about selling the hens, Lillia has no choice. Bills are coming soon, and the ranch desperately needs the money. She can only hope that Popuri won't be too upset for letting her chickens get sold.

Vaughn notices the sad tone in Lillia’s voice. "May I ask what's wrong?"

She feels obligated to give an honest explanation, "these hens were raised by my daughter. She got very attached to them, and it hurts me to sell them. I just wish that their lives wouldn't have to be cut so short."

"Cut short?" asked Vaughn. He then tilts his hat one more time and says, "maam, I have no idea what type of people you normally do business with, but let me assure you that these amazing birds will never end up in anyone's dinner table."

Lillia looks up at Vaughn with hope, "really? Where are they going?"

"I have a friend who runs a farm in Sunny Island. He just built a coop and he asked me to find him some good chickens. These birds are gong to be well taken care of, and live a very long time. Trust me."

Lillia beams with excitement over the news. She can only thank Vaughn for his kindness. She wants to rush home and tell Popuri, but Lillia is a professional. She must finish the business deal before dealing with family matters.

After the chickens are paid for, Vaughn cages them and loads them into a truck to be transported. As he loads the last hen, he notices from the corner of his eye that Popuri is watching him from her bedroom window. Tears freely flowing from her eyes as she watches her hens being loaded in a truck in cages. Vaughn tries to comfort her by tilting his hat to her smiling. Popuri just tosses herself on her bed and cries herself sick.

Lillia waves at Vaughn as the truck drives to the dock. Now that business is handled, she can tend to her daughter who she knows is crying in her room. As Lillia walks into Popuri's room, she find her daughter weeping uncontrollably face down on her pillow. She then sits on Popuri's bed, and strokes her long pink hair until she is calm enough to talk.

"They're gone mom," cried Popuri. "I wanted them to stay long enough to lay some eggs. I wanted to at least have something to remember them. Now I'll never be able to see them again!"

Lillia smiles and says, "now now sweetie. I know that you're upset, but I promise that they are going to be in a better home now. They will live a long time, and have lots of babies of their own."

Popuri looks up at her mother's smile and asks, "what do you mean?"

"My dear sweet daughter. Your hens are not going to a slaughterhouse. They are going to live in a farm in Sunny Island. Vaughn promised that your hens will be safe there."

It takes a moment for Popuri to absorb the news. In a matter of moments, Popuri smiles and embraces her mother joyfully. "Mama! Thank you! I'm sorry that I yelled! I'm so happy right now!" Lillia feels proud and caresses her daughter's head as she cried tears of joy. Popuri is still a bit sad. Even if her hens will be safe, she believes that she won't see them ever again. She is still happy that they will live happily at a farm.