Untitled. Yes, Untitled. Now who would be lame enough to title a story Untitled?
Me of course. Why? Well why not? I can name a story anything that fits it best,
and I think I found just the right thing to call it.
I was a Meerca, you see. A Meerca with a mission. I was quite a brave and
fearless Meerca. I was flat-out broke, as I had no owner nor a good home. I
had escaped the evil clutches of the Pound and moved to a new home in Terror
Mountain. Well, not exactly a NEW home. More of an old rock cave that was no
warmer than the chilly dry air outside. With only a tattered blanket to keep
me warm, I lived happily and peacefully in my humble home.
That peaceful and happy feeling didn't last for long. I could see the rich
Neopets with their owners skiing down the mountains adjacent to my cave. I even
saw another Meerca, painted of course, dressed in her coat, hat, fur-lined boots,
and even a muff to keep her small paws warm. I couldn't help but be jealous.
I was given a life to enjoy. Why should I waste away this precious gift living
in a cold cave with not a single possession with exception to my little rag.
This was the day I chose to change my life.
I marched into town, shivering of course, to start my mission--getting a job.
If I could get a job, I could get NP. If I could get NP, then I could buy things.
If I could buy things, then I would be happier. At least that sounded right.
I peered over at a marshmallow-looking hut by the mountainside. A big icicle-covered
sign read, "Neggery". Why not? I stepped inside, overwhelmed by the indoor heating.
I hadn't felt real warmth for so long. I went up to the purple and blue striped
desk and tapped the little silver bell.
A kind-looking faerie approached the counter. "Hello little Meerca. What brings
you to my lovely Neggery?"
"I was hoping, um, that I could get a job."
"Well, we really don't have any jobs open at this time."
"Are you sure? I'm totally broke and have no possessions other than this."
I held up my torn blanket.
"Oh dear! I guess you can be the person who grows the Neggs."
"Neggs grow?"
"Yes, of course. There are special trees that are grown in the basement of
this Neggery that bear fruit, or Neggs to be more precise."
"I'll take the job!"
The faerie showed me downstairs to the tree nursery. "This is where you will
be staying." She showed me to a little closet. "I'm afraid this is where you
can sleep, assuming your old sleeping place is unsuitable to live in. Now make
sure to water the Negg trees every day and take careful watch over them! Neopians
are always trying to steal the trees to 'grow' their bank accounts!" I nodded
as she went back upstairs to sell more Neggs. I didn't care to ask what this
little job paid. It didn't matter to me, as a single Neopoint would feel like
1 million NP in my tired paws. I watered all the trees with a provided watering
can and took a snooze. I was actually sleeping on something good today, a single
pillow. Meercas are small so it didn't matter anyway. I was happy.
A couple nights into my new job I heard footsteps coming downstairs into the
nursery. I figured it was the Negg Faerie coming to see how I was doing. I peeked
out through the crack between the closet door and the wall. It was a canine-shaped
figure. This was no Negg Faerie! I opened the closet door and switched the lights
on. It was a shadow coloured Gelert. He was picking a ripe Cool Negg off its
tree branch. He quickly stuffed it in his bag and began running back up the
stairs. I used my tail as a springboard and lunged at the criminal Gelert. I
snatched his knapsack and climbed up a Glamour Negg tree.
"Give it back, please?" the Gelert pleaded. That Cool Negg was the only ripe
Negg in the Neggery at the time.
"Why should I?" I asked him back with a raised voice.
"Because, uh, I'm with the Gelert Health Inspection Agency."
"Really?" I said quite loudly.
"Yeah, yeah that's right. So can I have it?"
Before I could answer, the Negg Faerie came down the steps. She spotted the
Gelert and grabbed him by his scruff. She went upstairs and called the Chia
Police. I stayed up on my tree branch, just for safety.
A couple of minutes later the Negg Faerie came downstairs. She lifted me out
of the tree and gave me a hug. "Thank you for protecting my precious Negg trees!
Without you talking in your loud voice, I never would I have heard you to catch
that pesky Gelert. Thank you so much!"
I smiled and curled up back into my little closet. I was to receive my paycheque
tomorrow. I couldn't wait!
***
30,000 NP!!!
I leapt up into the air. The Negg Faerie said I was the greatest worker she
ever had. I quit my job as a Negg grower that day and went on to buy my own
home.
I bought a small cottage near the Neggery that was only 10,000 NP! It was
Meerca-sized and it had lovely furniture installed inside it. I couldn't have
been happier!
A couple days into my new living, I began feeling lonely. Very lonely. I felt
a deep depression that I hadn't felt before. I began over-thinking my life.
I thought about the Neggery. I realised I hadn't actually gone to the Neggery
to get money. That's what I may have thought over and over at the beginning,
but I was wrong. What I had gone there for was a friend. And I had found a friend--the
Negg Faerie. She was the kindest person I had ever met--she didn't turn me down
like my three previous owners had long ago. I didn't need money to be happy,
I needed family. And I knew where my family was.
I tapped on that little silver bell on that purple and blue striped desk.
The Negg Faerie came up and smiled. "Hello little Meerca. How shall I be of
help to you today?"
"Will you do anything for me?" I asked, sounding desperate.
"Well, sure, I guess. Have you gone poor again?"
"Yes actually I have. I'm broke again, Negg Faerie. Not in NP, as I was before.
I am poor in family. I have no family and that's what I need most. I don't need
money to keep me happy and peaceful. I need a family, and I'm asking... if you
could be my owner."
The Negg Faerie gasped and thought for a moment. I began to walk away, fearing
that 'no' that would soon follow. As I stepped out the door, the faerie let
out a weak 'yes'. I turned and looked at her. She smiled a huge smile, and repeated
'yes' with more enthusiasm. She outstretched her arms and, using my tail as
a springboard once again, I leapt into her arms. "Welcome home, my friend,"
she replied with a giant hug.
***
I'd have to say I'm one very lucky Meerca. I still have my NP, but I haven't
bought anything with it. I do help to pay for the running costs of the Neggery,
but that doesn't matter. I have my owner, the Negg Faerie. She's been so kind
to me, and that's how I'm lucky. Now I hope you understand why I named my story
'Untitled'. There is not a single word in the dictionary that could describe
my thoughts and feelings I have felt in my life story. There is also not a word
that describes my deep love and gratefulness to the Negg Faerie. I'm glad I
could share it with you.
The End |