My Life as a Reject

     "Ah, Cadbunny, you're here at last. I have your report here, and I'm afraid there are some problems with the way you were assembled."

     I swallowed and couldn't speak. I had known what she would say. I had seen the other plushies that rushed from belt to belt in the warehouse, and they looked perfect- their eyes sewn on correctly, their fur smooth, and no lumps in their stuffing.

     "Do you understand, Cadbunny? You are going to be rejected."

     I managed to make a small sound that resembled the word, "yes."

     "Well…" She paused, looking over her glasses. Apparently she had expected me to fall sobbing at her feet and beg to be accepted. Her manner definitely spoke of disapproval. "There is still a way we can allow you to be taken to the toy shop with the others. You can be repaired by one of our hand craftsman. It will be a painless procedure, and you will be allowed to stay with the other plushies once you are complete." She sat back in her desk chair and gave me a tight smile, looking pleased with her idea.

     But I wasn't pleased with her idea. I knew that most rejected plushies weren't offered this chance, and I hated to think what happened to the ones who weren't sent out to the toy shop…but all the same, I was healthy and playful, and I was me- that was all that mattered, right?

     "Well?" Dr. Wisper said once again. I could feel the word ring off of her bare gray walls.

     "N-no thank you, Ma'am."

     She was very still and her eyes went blank, but the little smile was still there on her lips. Then she pushed a button on her desk, and I felt the floor give way.

     ***

     When I woke up, I got an immediate and nasty shock. I was in a huge bin full of rejected plushies just like me! Some were missing eyes or noses, others had loose threads, and a couple had limbs that were different sizes. They were all milling around, talking and laughing. One group was even playing a complex game with a set of jacks that had a square ball.

     I felt awful. So this is what happened to the "Rejects;," the horrid people at the factory, led by the gruesome Dr. Wisper, hid them away from Neopia in a giant cage. And for what? Because this plushie didn't get enough blue dye in its fur; or this one was missing an ear. How could the plushies help it if the assembly line workers weren't paying attention? I felt anger rush through my polyester. This wasn't right!

     Almost before I could think what I was doing, I darted to the other end of the cage. As I hopped along furiously, I looked over every inch of the cage. Surely there was a way out of this dreary place. As I passed one surly looking group, a Techo Reject grabbed my ear, and spun me around painfully.

     "Where're you runnin' off to, little one. You just got 'ere!"

     "I'm trying…" I panted, "…to get…OUT!"

     The Techo let go of me and stared down into my eyes. "Whatcha mean, get out? What's the point o' doing that?"

     "Well…it's just not right, us being hidden away like this. How will anyone ever accept us if they don't know we exist? How can we change Dr. Wisper's mind if we can't prove we're wanted?"

     The Techo threw his head back, laughing and pointing at me. I backed away, and then resumed my flight across the cage as the small group shouted, "Wanted! Us, wanted! Ha ha ha!"

     As I reached the end of the cage, my heart was pounding, but not from the encounter with the Techo, or even from running at top speed. It was because I saw the way out, as if it was put there on purpose for me, personally, to use. It was a key to the cage, hanging on a post just within arms reach.

     I left immediately. None of the other plushies followed me.

     ***

     The toy store was huge. Almost as huge as the factory where I was made. But the difference was as big as the place- in here, there were hundreds of happy faces- Neopet faces, walking from aisle to aisle beside their owners as they hunted for the perfect toy.

     So many people…surely one of them would want me. The Techo couldn't be right- I was a good plushie, and all I wanted to do was be the pride and joy of one Neopet…but as I wandered into the store, my mouth hanging open, I heard something that made my fur curl. It was the voice of Dr. Amelia Wisper.

     "…we've had some really good stock lately, and you know we have rigorous standards." She was speaking to the owner of the toy store, and they were surveying the new "stock" together. The owner, a red Lupe with long silky fur, poked one of the plushies with his paw and grunted.

     "Mmm. Yes, they look very nice."

     Dr. Wisper beamed, throwing her shoulders back and looking around as if everyone was listening to what he had said. I was the only one listening, of course. But I didn't matter.

     I sat down behind a rack full of kazoos and closed my eyes. It was a stupid dream, coming to this place, wanting to be accepted. I could never be as good as the plushies the Lupe was buying from Dr. Wisper, and there were so many of them- surely enough for everyone in Neopia. I started to feel myself droop, as if my stuffing was being pulled out through the loose stitching on my tummy.

     "What are these, Amy?" said a voice from behind me.

     "They're kazoos. You can play them by humming and blowing into the opening on the end, see?"

     A kazoo honked over my shoulder, but I couldn't be bothered to look around. I heard a strange muffled noise, as if the Neopet was trying to play the kazoo, as her owner had demonstrated.

     "I don't know…that isn't really what I was looking for, but I don't know quite what I want."

     At that moment a shadow passed over me, and I looked up at the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. She was an Aisha in a lovely, flowing gown and a tall headpiece with a trail of silk, and when she saw me her eyes widened.

     "That's it!"

     I continued to stare stupidly. The Neopets' owner looked at me as well, and nodded.

     "Yeah, that is what you were describing- a toy that could keep you company as well as be fun to play with!"

     The Aisha bent and picked me up, and the minute I was in her arms I felt all the life come back into my stuffing. She looked at my ID tag.

     "Cadbunny. He's beautiful, don't you think?" the Aisha said, looking back at her owner. I couldn't believe what I was hearing- I was right! There was someone who would think I was the perfect plushie for them!

     "Oh, my dear, you don't want that old plushie- we have several new ones right here!" said a voice from behind us.

     I felt my fur wilt. It was the voice of rejection, that voice. It was Dr. Wisper, and she was looking at the three of us standing there by the kazoo bin.

     My beautiful new owner- if she was to be my owner- looked over at Dr. Wisper and hugged me tighter as she said, "but I like Cadbunny. He's perfect."

     Dr. Wisper's mouth fell open. I wasn't perfect! I was a reject- the lowest of the low.

     Amy put a hand on the Aisha's shoulder and said, "Let's go pay for your plushie, Serenon."

     Serenon…her name was as dazzling as her beauty. And she thought I was perfect. I snuggled against the crook of her arm and closed my eyes. Dr. Wisper wasn't ready to let this abomination go, however.

     "But…he's…he's got major defects!"

     Serenon turned and smiled at Dr. Wisper, her dress swirling as she moved.

     "So have I," she said.

     And then we walked away, leaving Dr. Wisper standing beside the kazoo bin.

The End