"Come on, Talia. This isn't funny," said Andros crossly.
"Is very funny," said Talia with smile, still biting the zipper. "To me."
Andros stepped forward and tried to grab the zipper, but Talia jumped out of the way and scrambled behind him.
"Oh, bad little dragon. You deserve punishment," she said as she slapped Andros back with the zipper.
It didn't hurt his thick skin, but he was scared to death that she would damage the zipper.
"Okay, okay. I'll do what you want. Just stop hitting me," said Andros.
"You will be good little dragon?" asked Talia, holding the zipper up, ready to strike again at any sign of disobedience.
"Yes, yes. I'll do whatever you want. Just name it!" hissed Andros.
"Good, good, " said Talia with satisfaction. She slid like a cat into a lounge chair and stared up at Andros, still tightly clutching the zipper. "I vant you to come to little sister's birthday party."
"What?!" asked Andros with shock.
Talia chuckled. "You look just like character from TV show - 'Little Dragons'. She love show. You will be nice surprise. Will make her very happy."
"No way, " said Andros. It was one thing to look like this at home, but he definitely didn't want to go out like this. Especially to a party, where there would be lots of people, some of whom undoubtedly knew him. "Forget it."
"Aw, " said Talia in mock sadness, pouting her lips. "You still want to be bad dragon? Maybe I leave here with zipper. Give you time to think...."
Talia packed the zipper into her purse and began to walk towards the door. Andros stumbled after her, still not used to his bulky new body.
"Wait, wait," he said quickly. Talia paused and turned to look back at him. "I'll do it."
Talia smiled and patted his snout. "Good dragon. I knew you were good dragon. You have good time. I promise. Good girl."
"Girl?" asked Andros with shock.
Talia chuckled.
"You really do not know show?"
She shrugged. "It is for children. Dragon is female. You know, with pussy?"
Andros paled. Talia could be blunt sometimes.
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Andros nervously excited the bed of Talia's truck. He was much too big to fit in a regular car, so she had borrowed a friend's pickup truck. Andros felt nervous walking through the crowd of adults. He was essentially naked, after all. But aside from a few awkward curious glances, no one really paid him any mind. Undoubtedly they just thought he was some kind of costumed entertainer. But as he neared the large group of children he knew it would be a different story with them.
Talia's little sister, Katya, ran forward.
"Sasha!" she said with excitement as she hugged Andros belly tightly. "What are you doing here?"
"Your sister brought me here to help celebrate your birthday," said Andros sweetly.
"Really?" asked Katya in perfect English. Unlike her older sister, she had been born in America and had no trace of a Russian accent.
"Da. Is surprise. She is present .... no, what is word ... like pet, " said Talia.
"What?" said Andros angrily. "I didn't agree to that..."
Talia slapped Andros hard behind the head. "Dragon will be good if it wants treat. Otherwise will need punishment."
Katya ran up and slapped her tall sister's thigh. "Don't be mean to Sasha. Come with me, Sasha. I want to introduce you to all my friends. Then we can play games and have all kinds of fun. Just like on the TV, " said Katya with excitement. She led Andros gently away by the hand into a crowd of children.
He looked back at Talia, but she was gone.