Know Your Place

The next morning after breakfast, Benjamin paces back and forth in the room, Tux sitting on the bed in toy form once again. His mind was racing with thoughts, "Did I really see Mr. Hopp like that? I didn't know Tux followed me...Hopp didn't seem happy about that..." His thoughts were interrupted when he hears his name get called, "Benjamin, out here!" He takes Tux and sees Esther, Molly and Isaac standing in the hall. Benjamin walks over to them, "Hey guys." Isaac looks at him, "Benjamin, the matrons heard fighting last night. Do you know what happened?" Benjamin looks down, "I don't know if you guys will believe me..."

Esther touches his shoulder, "You can tell us. We're your friends." Benjamin takes a deep breath, "I heard music outside the room and I went to check it out...then...well..." He looks at Mr. Hopp who was back in plush form and he shudders, "Can we go somewhere else? Like where no one can eavesdrop?" The others nod and they go downstairs and set their toys down on the floor in the hallway on an empty shelf and go  to the next room. Benjamin sighs, "I went to the library when I heard it again, then I was hiding and I saw....I saw Mr. Hopp and he tried to grab me and Tux came and attacked him." 

Molly and Isaac were silent, trying to understand, but Esther holds his hand gently, "I've been in your shoes....I have seen it as well." Benjamin smiles and Molly makes a sharp gasp and points at the hallway, shaking. The children turn around to see their toys in their humanoid forms, and Tux was in the middle, hissing and growling at the three others. Mr. Stripes grabs the cat by the neck and pins him against the wall, holding his throat, "You made a big mistake kitty!" Tux kicks the tiger and tries to escape but Miss Bo and Mr. Hopp grab him and drags him back over. 

Tux swipes his hand, scratching Mr. Hopp's cheek and Miss Bo slaps the cat hard, "You should be put in your place!" "You sure that was a wise choice you pet?" Mr. Hopp sneers and turns around to see Benjamin running towards them, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!" He tries to hit the rabbit but Mr. Stripes picks him up, "What should we do with you?" Tux tries to help Benjamin, but Miss Bo holds him back and he growls, "BENJAMIN!" Esther growls and there was a flash of light, causing Mr. Hopp and the other two to growl and back away. 

They see Esther holding the necklace, glaring at them, "Don't make me use this, Mr. Hopp! Put him down and let Tux go!" He snarls at the young girl and looks at Mr. Stripes and Miss Bo and they obey. Benjamin runs to Tux and hugs him tight, tears falling down his face and Tux hisses at the three others, and they hiss back at him. He protects Benjamin, growling, "I have no problem killing you all if you ever hurt my kid again." Mr. Hopp leans forward where his eyes met with Tux's button eyes and smiles, "I have no problem killing you either." Tux growls at the rabbit and they all hear footsteps coming down the stairs and the monsters turn back into their plush forms and the children quickly run back to the room taking the other stairs nearby.

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