Cindy Flubberface in Criminal Chickens

By Russell McAlister Martin

As Cindy Flubberface strolls down the Champs-lyses in romantic Paris, France, she cant believe her eyes. Wherever she looks, she finds herself smiling back from posters and billboards. The Big Top Hat Circus is hugely successful, and as the star of the show, she is recognized everywhere she goes. Everything seems possible in such a magical city. But when Cindy is attacked by two giant chickens in a lovely Parisian park, she isnt aware that she is about to come face-to-face with an evil that threatens to destroy Planet Earth.

Cindy Flubberface in Criminal Chickens is the exciting continuation of the popular Cindy Flubberface in Electric Poodles. Come and join Cindy in her new adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524635282

Russell McAlister Martin

Russell McAlister Martin was born in Tennessee, but danced his way around the world. From Los Angeles, through Las Vegas, then on to London, Paris and Madrid, where he now resides. Currently, he is enjoying the challenge of teaching English to executives. Russell dreams that some day Elegance will return to the world, accompanied by Compassion and good old Common Sense.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Cindy Flubberface awoke to a warm, sunny, spring sky in romantic Paris, France. She rolled out of bed and gave Pierre and Toulouse a good scratch behind their little poodle ears, before padding into the bathroom to get ready for another adventuresome day. She was discovering that every day is an adventure when you are living in a foreign country and do not speak the country’s language. Simple tasks, such as buying toothpaste and finding a good fish-and-chips shop, can get quite complicated, not to mention trying to explain what you do in life, especially when what you do in life is to perform magic tricks and interpretive dance atop a gigantic elephant named Beebo.

As the Star of the Big Top Hat Circus, she had been provided with living quarters close to the Place de la Concorde, where the Big Top Hat big top had been erected. The international traveling circus’s tent had cleverly been designed and constructed in the form of a gigantic top hat and created an interesting blotch on the Paris skyline.

After bathing and dressing, Cindy had a look in her purse to make sure that she had everything that she might need. She caught a glimpse of a can-opener down at the bottom of the bag. One never knew when one might need to open a can. Rooting about with her hand, she came across her ukulele (at one time she had considered learning to play it) and a multi-coloured marble that her cousin Alfred had used once as a glass eye, giving everyone quite a surprise at Primula Fudnick’s birthday party. She chuckled to herself remembering the party-goers’ faces. Cindy had been a Girl Guide and tried not to leave the house without being prepared, which she thought was a sensible idea. Everything seemed to be in order, so she threw the bag over her shoulder and snatched up the dogs’ leads.

It was a lovely morning and after meandering around for a bit in a pretty green park close to her flat, she decided to have a seat on one of the benches that lined the walkway. As she rested there pondering the changes in her life since she had begun to work with the circus, she noticed something that she found quite odd. Two people dressed in bright yellow chicken costumes had stopped not too far away from the bench where she sat. They were pointing at her and gesticulating animatedly. One of them was quite tall and the other quite short.

Cindy pondered the two giant chickens with interest. It was entirely possible that they were participating in a routine advertising campaign. Maybe Flappy Happy Chicken was going to open one of their fast food restaurants in Paris. Cindy had tried the Extra-crispy Fried Chicken Tongues back in the UK and had found them quite tasty. The innovative fast food chain’s theme music still resounded in her head, although she hadn’t heard it in months. She bobbed her head up and down as she sang the catchy tune to herself.

"When you’re feeling peckish, and don’t know what to do,

Try Flappy Happy Chicken! You’ll squeak, you’ll snort, you’ll moo!

If you’re hot for spicy, or chillin’ for some sweet,

Try Flappy Happy Chicken! Neck! Beak! Tongue! Feet!"

As she sang, unconsciously her hand went to her throat to make sure that the little key was safe. She found the chain and ran her fingers along it until they came in contact with the small metal key. It seemed safe enough. As far as Cindy was aware, no one even knew that she had the small key, nor would anyone expect her to be wearing it around her neck.

Cindy had no idea what the key would open, nor what she might find inside. She had received it taped to the bottom of a flower arrangement that she had been sent on the opening night of the new and improved Big Top Hat Circus. It had been accompanied by a note from her friend and mentor, Prudence Lighthouse, instructing her not to lose it, but with no other pertinent information.

As she sat there on the bench enjoying the soothing spring sun, Pierre and Toulouse sniffed about in the overgrown grass under the bench. Suddenly Pierre hopped up onto the bench beside her. Cindy pulled him onto her lap and scratched him behind the ears thinking that he might like some attention. But he seemed distracted with something that was happening behind her.

Just as she began to swivel around to see what was going on behind her back, Toulouse bounced up onto the bench, stood up on his back legs and started to growl. He curled his little poodle lips, baring his sharp teeth. When Pierre joined in from Cindy’s lap, she realised that something was wrong and leapt up and away from her seat just in the nick of time as a fuzzy, fat chicken hand made a grab for her neck from behind. As the bright yellow fur made a sweep through the air, Toulouse took advantage of the moment to dig his spiky little teeth into the furry paw.

Quick as lightening, Cindy dropped Pierre and jammed her hand into her purse, which hung postman style at her hip. Thank goodness Prudence Lighthouse had slipped that laser sword into her bag when they parted ways on that uncharted island a few months ago, back when they had had all of those strange occurrences. She whipped the sword out of her bag and faced the short and tall yellow chickens. Pressing a button on the handle the laser blade leapt into action.

After letting out quite a howl, the two strange, yellow, fuzzy birds turned their backs on her and took off running through the park. Toulouse bounded after them yapping and snarling.

When she was sure that the big yellow muggers had not turned back towards her, she called to the excited dog and he came galloping back panting.

She put the laser sword back into her bag and picked up the two talented little poodles. They celebrated the disappearance of the giant chickens by licking her face. This made Cindy happy.

Being a bit nervous after the near mugging, she glanced around in search of a policeman or a Civil Guard (called the gendarme in France), but then realized that her story might sound a little daft. Why would any police officer believe that she had been attacked by two giant, furry chickens? Imagining the possible encounter, she also realised that as a well-known circus star, the attack might be reported to a news agency. On second thought, she reckoned it best to just be on her way.

Well, that was certainly an interesting way to start the day, she commented to Toulouse and Pierre as they strolled through the park. It’s not every day that one is attacked by two giant chickens.

The two little performing circus poodles looked up at her. She could tell that they agreed with her. The three of them wandered on for a few minutes admiring the scenery in the park, each of them immersed in thoughts about their lives. The sun sparkled through the leaves, which were starting to pop out on the trees.

Then suddenly, from a short distance away she heard, Oh-là -là! Can I believe my eyes? Oh-là-là! and from up ahead of them on the tree-lined walkway a woman dressed in an expensive flowered housecoat and with large tomato juice cans on her head came racing toward her.

Chapter 2

Cindy was only briefly alarmed by the robust flower-clad woman sprinting towards her with arms out-stretched. Automatically her hand returned to the bag and grappled about in search of the laser sword.

But as the woman with the periwinkle blue hair rolled around large tomato juice cans drew closer, Cindy realised that it was none other than the famed fashion reporter Delfíne De Louis! Quickly Cindy glanced down to see what she was wearing. She certainly didn’t want any bad press for the Big Top Hat Circus! All of Paris had embraced them with open arms. Not to mention that Delfíne was a great fan of their international circus and had visited the show on numerous occasions.

Chèrie! You look simply da-ahhling! she gushed, as she swept Cindy into her healthy arms, giving her the customary air-kisses on both cheeks. Cindy had to dodge a bit to avoid being battered by a family-size tomato juice can.

Cindy had always found the air-kiss an interesting occurrence as there didn’t seem to be any real human contact. She air-kissed back and smiled warmly at Delfíne.

What a casualty that I find you here! chirped Delfíne.

Casualty? Cindy pondered the idea. Do you mean coincidence? she asked.

Ah. Oui! That is what I mean! Silly moi!

Delfíne wrapped her flowered arm through Cindy’s and they continued to stroll back in the direction from which the explosion of flowers and tomato juice cans had come.

Nous devons suivre cette direction durant un moment.

Cindy looked at Delfíne questioningly.

We must walk this way for a bit. I’m afraid I have left my little Ade-laide tied to a tree. Come. Come.

The two well-known Paris celebrities ambled along enjoying the sunny city morning. Delfíne told Cindy all the popular fashion news: Brianna Brioche was visiting New York. (Apparently, she was collaborating on a project to raise awareness of the plight of the pooky weasel.)

Segolene Succatash had been seen at a chic Paris restaurant with famed Japanese businessman Kio Watanabe. Cindy had no idea who these people were, but nodded kindly, as she considered that it was always a good idea to make people feel understood.

Delfíne continued with the fashion gossip, telling her that a famous Australian designer had recently arrived in Paris and that all of the haute couture set were abuzz with his arrival. She, herself, had spoken with him and a grand welcoming event was being planned for him that very evening.

You simply must come, Chèrie. I will make sure that you receive an invitation. Say you will come. I will be so happy!

Cindy thought quickly about the evening’s circus production then remembered that there was no show that evening. Besides, turning down an invitation to a grand social event, if offered, just didn’t seem the proper thing to do. So everything was arranged and Cindy Flubberface, Star of the Big Top Hat Circus, had the day to find a suitable frock.

Delfíne took Cindy’s address and mobile number and promised to have the special VIP invitation sent to her small flat during the course of the day.

They continued strolling until they saw a rather agitated group of people up ahead. Suddenly Miss De Louis dropped Cindy’s arm and took off in a mad dash toward the gathering.

Ne touche pas mon bébé! Don’t touch my Adelaide! Don’t touch my baby! she screamed as she rocketed toward the group.

At the sound of the shrill voice the group broke open and she raced to the tree to which she had left her dear Adelaide tied. But Adelaide was not there. In a state of dire and absolute anguish a wale escaped from Delfíne’s throat.

Then, a young girl of about eight years