The New Lenny Conundrum

      Why not take a vacation? Why not try a new hobby? Why not, why not, why not!?! All the cheerful suggestions just made him feel worse. Why couldn't anyone understand his pain?

      For days (or maybe even weeks, months, years), he wallowed in self-pity at home, sometimes staying in bed all day long. The days just blurred together like mush, and he no longer cared about keeping track. Today, he stared up at the ceiling and felt tears fall down his furry face. “I've got a riddle... What do you get when you take away a wizard's purpose in life? Suddenly and without warning?” He cried harder when he thought of the answer... a depressed Lenny. He needed to go out and get some food, but he couldn't face the looks and questions from his fellow Neopians. They always recognized him, and they always asked about what happened to his riddles. He hoped every day when he woke up that it would be the day Lenny Conundrum started again. Sadly, the day never came, and with each passing hour he felt the light and fire in his heart growing dimmer and dimmer.

      Then one day, the news of the strange Grey Curse knocked him out of his stupor. All throughout Neopia citizens were turning Grey and depressed, which was exactly how he felt now. On the outside he was still his colourful self; but on the inside he was dark and grey. He sympathised greatly with how the cursed Neopians felt, so he pulled himself up and decided to help. He dusted off his starry wizard hat and robes and finally stepped out of his home, before promptly going back in. His heart pounded and sweat poured down his face at the thought of going back out into society. No, he needed to take it slowly. First, he would take a shower since he reeked, and his fur was all matted with dirt and grime. Then he would clean his room and wash his clothes.

      A few days passed, and as he looked at his reflection in his clean room, he felt ready. He looked down at the Neopian Times on his desk and read the advertisement he recently found again: “Help wanted! Have some free time? Why not lend a paw, wing, or claw to the Grey shopkeepers around Neopia?” He smiled and tucked the newspaper under his wing as he headed out with a new sense of purpose in his heart.

      After a quick interview he was accepted as a new volunteer. Today he would be at the Super Happy Icy Fun Snow Shop, and he was more than excited to help a fellow Lenny in need. After entering the store and seeing Inah's sad appearance and demeanour, he felt it was more like the Super Sad Icy Depressing Snow Shop.

      “Thank you for helping. I apologise for the terrible selection...” Inah greeted him in a flat voice, though each word was heavy with grief. She was currently slumped down over her counter, crying quietly to herself.

      Lenny wanted to cheer her up, but he wasn't sure what he could do. After some deliberation, he did the only thing he could do best, so he straightened his starry wizard hat and smiled widely.

      “Inah, I have a riddle for you! Hmmm... Maybe you've heard this one before... What can run, but never walk; has a mouth, but cannot talk; has a bed, but never sleeps?” Inah wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at the strange eccentric figure before her. Lenny was glad to know that he made her smile. “Take your time and think about it! If you have the answer, I will give you something nice! But first, tell me what I need to do! I can help with anything in your store! Oh, and call me Lenny!”

      Inah showed Lenny how to make the sweet icy treats, the correct prices for each kind, and various greetings and small talk he could use with customers. Lenny pulled out his starry notebook and quickly wrote down everything he needed to do. He felt energised and excited to finally have a purpose in his life again.

      He poured his heart into helping at the store, particularly with making the Magical Chia Pops. He truly felt like a wizard again making these strange and delicious sweets. He imagined himself as a little Pea Chia and laughed until his sides hurt. He sighed and sat down when his work was finished. He was still sad about losing his beloved Lenny Conundrum, but maybe he was more than just the riddle wizard. He could be a sweets wizard, or a little Chia wizard, or any kind of wizard he wanted to be. As he sat thinking about all his possible futures, Inah burst through the doors and yelled, “A river!!!”

      “Yes, that's correct! Let's see... your prize is this one-of-a-kind starry wizard hat!” Lenny gently placed his beloved hat on her head and watched the tears well up in her eyes. “But, but... you said you love this hat! I can't possibly take it... but it is rather nice. You know I used to like dressing in flashy clothes like this, before I turned...”

      “That hat got me through a lot of tough times. I'm sure it will help you as well! Also, I really admired your colourful style before! And you can still be colourful now! You know, I'll be helping at Unis Clothing Shop tonight after I finish here. Why don't you come with me, and we can pick out some colourful clothes together?”

      The two fluffy friends closed the shop and headed toward Neopia Central. When they reached the clothing shop, they found a grey Uni dressed in dark clothes sitting alone in the dark.

      "I'm here to help with the night stocking and organising... I also brought a friend! She’s looking for some colourful clothes...” Lenny wasn't used to being the brightest light in the room, still he tried his best to comfort the grey Neopians around him.

      “Nice to meet you. I'm Ellia. We have a selection of colourful goods over there... I understand if you don't like anything...” The Uni sighed and stared off into the distance as Lenny and Inah searched around the store. Every single item Lenny saw was amazing! The store was a kaleidoscope of colours and designs, with all tastes, sizes, and species represented.

      “Did you make all of these? Could you show me how? I would love to be able to make my own wizard hats!” The Uni nodded quietly at Lenny’s questions and took out her sewing supplies.

      “Sure, I can show you, but my work isn't very good...” This, however, was not true at all. The Uni was a master at her craft, deftly sewing together a beautiful hat in under ten minutes. Lenny took an hour to make a strange lopsided hat, but he was pleased, nonetheless. He put on his new poorly made hat and thanked the shopkeeper profusely as he started restocking and organising goods for the next day. Inah also helped, and as the three of them worked together Lenny shared more riddles with his new friends.

      As he set out the final t-shirt, he saw both shopkeepers wipe away tears. “Oh no, is something wrong? Did I mess something up?” Ellia and Inah mustered a smile and thanked him for brightening up their day.

      “You know, we had an idea. As you volunteer with grey shopkeepers, why don't you set up a riddle booth? After you help with shop things, you can entertain everyone with your riddles and charming personality!” Lenny tried to gulp back his tears, soon unable to stop the river from flowing down his face.

      “That is a wonderful idea! I'd be happy to come up with new riddles for everyone!! You don't know how much your words mean to me. I know I wasn't hit by the Grey Curse, but I've been so Grey on the inside since the official Lenny Conundrum went on a break. I was lost for so long, but now I feel like my old self again. I know both of you will find the light again, too!”

      Lenny, Inah, and Ellia hugged before closing the store and parting ways. When Lenny returned home, he felt lighter than ever before. He still mourned the loss of his old job, and he would probably carry that sadness for a long time. However, he realised today that he didn't need to let that sadness define him. With the help of others, he would find a new purpose to get up each day. He vowed to no longer hide away at home by himself. He would go out into Neopia and search for new meaning alongside his friends.

     The End.