Free Chook Chook by Wai Chim

there motionless, unsure of what Cap was going to do. Guo was biting his lip anxiously.
    With an unusual slowness, Cap spun around on his toes, swivelling his neck until he caught my eye. ‘Come on, Mei. Let’s show him.’ And he gave me a big goofy grin.
    My hands were shaking when I stepped out of the office. Lo let out a throaty caw when he saw me and started to beat his wings up against the sides of his prison. It was too cramped for him to spread out and Little had to squish herself up in a corner to stay out of his way.
    I picked up the cage, and closed the door behind me. I sure hoped Cap knew what he was doing.
    â€˜Over here.’ Cap pointed to a spot in front of the desk and I set them down. Lo was flapping about with such force I was scared he was going to knock the whole cage over.
    Eventually, Lo calmed down enough for Cap to open the small gate. With surprising gentleness, he coaxed Little out of the cage.
    Professor Law was leaning forward at his desk, a look of amusement dancing in his eyes.
    â€˜I need a clean space and a big piece of paper,’ Cap explained. I looked over at the professor’s desk cluttered with books and sheets of notepaper.
    But Guo was already on the case. He pushed a few of the piles of books together to create a makeshift table. Eager to help, I looked around the room and spotted an old dusty whiteboard leaning against the wall. I showed it to Cap.
    â€˜Can we use this?’ My stomach flip-flopped a little with both nervousness and excitement.
    Cap nodded and I went to help Guo lay it out across the books.
    Suddenly, Cap smacked himself on the forehead. ‘Oh, and one more thing! It’s very important. I can’t believe I almost forgot.’ He turned to the professor. ‘We need light. Lots of it. Like in the TV studios.’
    As one, we turned to the single window in the room. The blinds were drawn shut. Professor Law got there first. He yanked on the cord so the blinds flew up.
    Bright white light flooded the room and I had to shield my eyes with my arm.
    Cap grinned broadly. ‘We can begin.’
    I didn’t know where Cap had gotten the idea. I’d never seen the TV show Bet You Can’t and had never heard of the Tic Tac Toe Chickens or knew how they played the game. Little was clearly nervous as Cap handed her to me. Her small white body trembled against mine.
    Cap drew a hasty noughts and crosses grid on the board with an erasable marker. I watched as he wiped his hands on the sides of his shorts, and realised he was nervous too.
    He dug into his pockets, rummaging around until he pulled out his pocket watch. ‘Just need to check the time,’ he muttered quietly as if to himself. ‘It might not be a good time for them to perform.’
    Professor Law cleared his throat as he waited. Cap leaned way out of his seat, stretching towards the window as he peered closely at the cracked glass. I could see him twisting around, trying desperately to catch the light.
    Finally, a shimmer of light appeared along the far wall. Little saw it and squirmed in my arms. Cap snapped the watch shut.
    â€˜It’s perfect.’ He was now perched quite awkwardly in his seat, one leg cast wide to the right, his elbow digging into his thigh as he held the pocket watch in the palm of his hand. The other hand gripped the side of the chair for balance to keep it from toppling over.
    He put on a big goofy grin, trying to make it look like he was sitting in the most natural position in the world.
    Professor Law gave Cap a serious nod. ‘Well, that’s a relief. We wouldn’t want to ruin a show with poor timing.’ The professor had his hands folded over one knee as he waited patiently for the show to begin.
    â€˜Well, why don’t you go first?’ Cap said.
    The professor nodded and leaned over the makeshift board. He frowned and then made a big X in the middle spot of the grid.
    â€˜Great, it’s Little’s