Lenny: The Misunderstood NeoPet

By anne_1229

Ah, the Lenny. The forgotten NeoPet. Lennys have held the Wooden Spoon award for least popular NeoPet for as long as many of us can remember. Most of us would forget that they exist, were it not for the Lenny Conundrum. Most assume that Lennys are for the younger Neopians. But this is not true. Let's take a look at these surprisingly intelligent NeoPets.

The Lenny is still thought of to most as dumb, despite having a trivia game and a very difficult word problem game named after them. Most likely it is their looks that make them be regarded as dumb - a stork-like pet with a beak and long, thin legs. Not the most beautiful NeoPet. But do looks matter?

Only roughly 100,000 Lennys have been created (as of Thursday, July 19th at 2:00). That is less than half a percent of the total NeoPets! If you look at the description of the NeoPet, it points out that they are "highly intelligent and curious", that they can "master many forms of magic" and they can "outwit any opponents" - so why are they so unpopular?

The answer is looks. We've already established that the Lenny is, erm, something less than stunning. And new Neopians (and old ones, for that manner) are looking for a specific thing - if they want strength, then a Grarrl or Skeith looks like a good choice. If they're looking for happy pets, a Shoyru or Quiggle looks appealing. For pretty pets, an Aisha or Acara will do nicely. Want a cute pet? Go for the Kiko or Jubjub. Cunning? The Jetsam will do fine. Hardly anyone really thinks about brains when they select a NeoPet - and if they did, they'd probably overlook the Lenny.

So now we know that the Lenny species is a smart species, and that their looks deceive them. But what about their personality? What's a Lenny like up close and personal? I wanted to find out, so I interviewed professor_lenny, the yellow lenny. He belongs to cats2004, an owner who obviously looked at the description before selecting her pet.

Me: Hello, Professor_lenny. Erm, may I call you...?

PL: Call me PL. Me: Okay...

PL, let's begin. Now, the Lenny is the most unpopular NeoPet. Why do you think this is?

PL: Well, you see, Anne_1229, the Lenny is very misunderstood - erm, that's an 'e', not an 'i' in 'misunderstood'.

Me: Oh... Okay, thanks. *Pause* Go on.

PL: As I was saying, people just don't understand that the Lenny, though, I suppose, somewhat odd-looking, is a very intelligent NeoPet, and that can definitely come in handy. Strong NeoPets aren't always the best NeoPets.

Me: Okay. Now, on a more personal note, tell me about you and your owner.

PL: Ah, my owner. cats2004 is a caring owner (who, by the way, thinks Lennys are rather cute). And me? I spend my days looking for books to read or people to play with - when I'm not playing games or being fed, of course. Some pets also shun Lennys, you know. The few Lennys I know are very kind, though. Now, another of my hobbies is writing. As a matter of fact, I am writing a book of my theories on the scientific impact of-

Me: I think we'll have to cut it short, Professor_Lenny. Have a nice day!

PL: I- you as well!

There you have it--the Lenny, a smart, curious, kind NeoPet. I hope you have a different opinion about these creatures! Adopt/create a Lenny today!