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Neopia's Fill in the Blank News Source | 5th day of Sleeping, Yr 27
The Neopian Times Week 117 > Short Stories > A New Found Friend

A New Found Friend

by ziesolles

On one of the benches in the local park, sat a young yellow Lupe, gazing longingly around him at the blowing trees and flowering shrubs. He felt tired and alone as he moved his gaze down to what was left of his lunch, which was just a small Neoflakes cake.

     He had just finished a day at Neoschool, and the park was on his way back from school. He always came here to watch the birds, and see the trees, and to have a small snack. A lot of other pets also came here after school, to play ball and climb trees and talk with their friends.

     This young Lupe's name was Julio, and he was new to the area, he and his owner had moved into the area because of the more affordable living, but the Lupe did not enjoy it one bit. The school bullies regularly teased him because he was weak, he couldn't fight like most Lupes could. His Owner, Allan, had tried his best by training his young pet in the small backyard of their NeoHome, but to no avail.

     Julio had wanted to be trained at the Academy, or at the Training School on Mystery Island, but Allan could hardly afford to keep his pet alive, yet alone train him.

     As he moved his paw down to pick up the Neoflakes cake, he thought about how different life could be, had he been born stronger. But his thoughts were quickly interrupted as he saw a large paw swipe away his Lupe the Warrior Lunchbox. He looked up and saw a gang of large Lupes, the school bullies, staring down at him.

     "Ha! Look at him, the little squirt," shouted one of the bullies, "he can't even hold onto his lunchbox!"

     "Heh, yeah, what's this lunchbox kid?" sneered another, picking the lunchbox up and tossing out the Neoflakes cake, "A Lupe the Warrior one? What, dreaming of being a warrior, eh?" The whole gang burst out laughing, and Julio, full with misery, bent down to sob into his yellow paws.

     The bullies continued laughing at him, until a young handsome Lupe, named Clinton, walked up. "Leave him alone Randall!" he shouted clearly at the largest bully.

     "Oh look! It's Clinty sticking up for him!" replied Randall, "what's wrong then Clinty, tired of your fame?"

     "I said leave him alone," said Clinton, "Now go and pick on someone, you own size, for once." The bullies left the handsome young Lupe and Julio together. Clinton, the pet of Jackie, his owner, was very popular inside school, and also outside. He had many, many friends, mainly because of his talent inside the Battledome. He was a born fighter, and had won many trophies throughout the years. But Clinton wasn't a bully of any kind; he was warm, and always willing to help others.

     Clinton sat down next to the Lupe, not saying anything for a minute. He was just about to when suddenly Julio, still sobbing slightly, murmured, "Thanks, err, Clinton"

     "Don't mention it," replied Clinton quickly, "They've just got to be stopped sometimes, all the time actually."

     "It's, it's just because I'm, because I'm weak… and I can't fight," sobbed Julio miserably, "And Allan, my, my owner, he c-can't afford to train me up."

     "Don't sit on it, hey, why don't you come for dinner at my place?" Clinton asked, bending over to pick up Julio's lunchbox. He had taken an instant liking to the young Lupe, even though he wasn't as strong as he was.

     "R-really?" Julio replied eagerly, "I'd love that! But, but I'd have to ask…"

     "Okay then, let's go to your place first then, and ask," Clinton said finally. So the two of them set off towards Julio's NeoHome. They got there to be greeted by Allan, who was working in the front yard. "Julio! How are you, come on inside! How was school? And…" He had spotted the young Lupe standing next to Julio. "And, who would you be young sir?"

     "I'm Clinton," replied Julio's new friend, "I er, met Julio in the park after school, we err, I actually-"

     "We can talk later," cut in Allan, "You can come inside and have a drink and a biscuit."

     "Thanks!" said Clinton happily. So they all went inside, and Allan served them all a glass of Dandelion and Burdock Drink, and provided a small tin of biscuits for them to share.

     Allan had the idea that Clinton had helped Julio out of a spot of trouble with the bullies, judging by the muscles that the Lupe had. He looks like a fighter to me… Allan thought.

     After Clinton had finished eating, he decided it time to mention, if Julio could come to his place for dinner that night. He knew that his owner would say yes, as many times before Clinton had invited his friends over from school.

     "Err, Julio," began Clinton, "Did you, did you want to ask about, about tonight?"

     "Tonight? What, oh yes," said Julio, remembering, "Well Allan, umm, Clinton asked whether I'd like to go over to his place for dinner tonight, and umm, yeah, would that be alright?"

     "Oh, yes, sure you'd be allowed to go, but," Allan turned to Clinton, "Are you sure that, that would be alright with your Owner?"

     "Oh yes, certainly," Clinton said earnestly, "Jackie, my owner, he's always saying that I can bring my friends along for dinner, anytime."

     "I see, well, I suppose that would be alright. You'd better be off then I reckon. I'll walk you two over there if you like," said Allan, "go and get your coat then Julio."

     So together they left, and walked back to the park and then along the road to Clinton's NeoHome. When they arrived they saw Clinton's owner, Jackie coming out the door.

     "Oh hi Clinton!" he called out, walking towards him, Julio, and Allan, "how are you?"

     "Hi Jack," replied Clinton, "well, this is Julio, I've invited him for dinner tonight. And this is Allan, he's Julio's owner."

     "Oh that's great," shaking Julio's paw and Allan's hand, "well you two better go on in and get those paws washed. Come on, it's rather chilly out here."

     Clinton led Julio inside, then to the bathroom, to wash their paws before dinner. On they way they passed a large trophy cabinet with all of Clinton's Battledome awards. "Wow," whispered Julio, "you never told me you were a battler."

     "Oh, well, I, I just forgot…" said Clinton uneasily, as he did not want to show his high skill to his new-found friend, "well, the bathrooms here."

*****

That night they had a scrumptious meal, with foods that Julio had never seen, or even heard of. It was a great meal, and he was so full that he could barely stand up afterwards.

     When he did manage to though, Clinton took his new friend, Julio, to his room so that they could play a bit before Jackie took Julio home. "Here," Clinton said, tipping over out a large number of toys from inside a crate, "We can play with these if you like."

     "Yeah, okay," Julio, replied, picking up a green Chia plushie and throwing it into the air, and then catching it, "Clinton, you are truly the best friend I've ever had."

     "Gee, thanks," and then after thinking for a moment, Clinton said back, "You're the best friend I've ever had, too."

     A little while later Jackie came into the room and said, "Okay guys, I reckon you'd better pack up now, it's time to take Julio home, here, I'll help you."

     Then, after everything was packed away, Julio said, "Well, thanks for everything tonight, I'll, I'll see you tomorrow at school then, Clinton."

     "Okay, yup, see you then," Clinton replied, smiling, as he showed Julio out the door and into the hallway.

*****

That night Julio went to bed with his tummy bursting, he was so happy, having finally found a friend. From then on, Clinton became Julio's best friend, and Julio, was Clinton's best friend.

     The next day at school, Clinton sat with Julio at the same table, and helped him through the whole day without a single bully coming over to bother him. And then at lunch, when all of Clinton's other friends started swarming about him he said, "Everyone, this is Julio, he'll be playing with us today."

     Julio looked shy, but was comforted when a young Kougra came up and said, "Don't be shy, come on, I'll race you to the play equipment!" And smiling happily to himself, Julio took off in pursuit, and for the first time that year, Julio enjoyed his lunchtime, to the ultimate maximum.

     After school, Clinton walked with Julio to the park where they had met the previous day, and they both said their goodbyes. Then, with his tummy swelling with happiness, Julio skipped all the way home to found Allan outside their NeoHome waiting for him.

     "Well, how was school today?" he asked. And for the first time in all of his life, the young Lupe, by the name of Julio, grinned broadly and said in reply, "Great!"

The End

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