It's a Slorg's Life

      Pickle was a Slorg. Not blue, not yellow, not painted, but just a Slorg. His whole family -there was a lot of them- was painted, but why wasn't he? All he wanted was a nice home and to be painted. His family all lived together in a gallery called Bugga's Slorgs. They weren't well taken care of, and they were in one big glass display box. Pickle didn't like it very much, but he never admitted it.

      "Nothing, Mum." Pickle looked out one of the glass sides. In Bugga's Slorgs, there were many people and their neopets looking at them and all of Bugga's Slorg items. Someone, take me home, he thought, and continued to look at the visitors longingly.

      "Alright, dear," said his mother, "if something's wrong I want you to tell me, though. All right? You know I always understand. BEN! DON'T TOUCH THAT!" She slowly slugged away to a different side of the display box to yell at one of Pickle's brothers.

      Pickle watched a blue Kougra and its Feepit walk up and look at him. Why are they staring at me? Pickle thought. That Kougra doesn't need a petpet. Look, he already has one. He decided to just stare back at them.

      * * * * * *

      "Jenna!" Zeebo called to his owner. "Jenna, come look!"

      "Coming." Jenna, Zeebo's owner, walked over to her blue Kougra. "Zeebo," she said, "what is it? Please don't yell." She walked over to the glass display box where the Slorgs were and stood next to Zeebo.

      "Look, Jenna," said Zeebo. He poked his finger up against the glass where Pickle was. "Don't you think Jelly would like him?"

      "Yes, Zeebo," replied Jenna, "I think Jelly would like him, but he's in a gallery, and you can't buy things from galleries." Zeebo looked at her, about to say something.

      "That's true," said a voice. Jenna and Zeebo looked up to see who was talking to them. "But I'm moving my Slorgs to my shop. They will all be sold. Best buy one now before they're all gone." It was Bugga, the owner of this gallery!

      "Oh!" exclaimed Jenna. "Hello, Bugga." She smiled. "My name is Jenna, and this is my Kougra, Zeebo."

      Zeebo held up his Feepit. "And this is Tutu."

      "Nice to meet you, Jenna, Zeebo, and…Tutu," said Bugga. "I am Bugga, owner of this gallery. Are you interested in buying one of my Slorgs?"

      Zeebo nodded. "I want to buy a Slorg for my sister, Jelly. She's a baby Uni. Today's her birthday and she's always wanted a petpet!"

      * * * * * *

      What are they talking about? Pickle strained to hear. He could make out a few sentences. "The green one? You mean Pickle?" he heard Bugga say. "Oh, you don't want him." What are they talking about! thought Pickle. I'm a great Slorg! "Why don't you choose one of the others, like a painted one? I can give you a good deal!" No, please! Pickle thought. Pick me! Pick me! Take me away from here, paint me! "Yes, yes, alright. If you're sure."

      The next thing Pickle knew, Bugga was opening the top of the glass display box! His hand came towards Pickle, and Pickle panicked. What's going on?!

      * * * * * *

      "Ah, now," said Bugga, "here we go!" He carefully lifted the squirming Pickle out of the box. "Here you are, boy."

      Zeebo grinned and handed Jenna Tutu. "I'll take him," he told Bugga. "I want to be the one to give him to my little sister!" Then he turned, grinning, to Jenna. "Don't you think she'll love him?" he asked.

      "Well, here, boy." Bugga handed the Slorg to Zeebo. "Take good care of him. He doesn't eat much, mind you, but you still need to feed him." After handing Pickle to Zeebo, he wiped the slime on his pant leg. "Oh, and by the way," he added, "his name is Pickle."

      "Don't worry, Mr. Bugga," said Zeebo, "Pickle will have a great home with my sister, Jelly! She'll love him! I promise!"

      Bugga smiled. "Now, remember, Zeebo," he added, "no refunds."

      * * * * * *

      Once they were back at Zeebo and Jenna's neohome, Zeebo decided to 'tidy up' Pickle. He decided Pickle needed to look nice for his sister, Jelly. Jelly liked nice things, being a baby Uni and all.

      "Come on, Pickle!" Zeebo whined. "Get in the water! You stink!" They were in the backyard, next to a small tub filled with water. Zeebo was trying to get Pickle to take a bath, but every time Zeebo went to put him in the water, Pickle stuck to his paw and refused to go in.

      No! Slorgs and water don't mix well! Don't you know that? thought Pickle, hoping Zeebo would understand him.

      After a few minutes, Zeebo gave up on giving Pickle a bath. Instead, he wet a small cloth and rubbed it all over Pickle's body. At least it made him shine, and the smell went away a little bit. He tied a big, bright red bow around Pickle's neck, making him look nice.

      "Okay Pickle," said Zeebo, "it's time." He carefully lifted Pickle and set him in a brightly colored box. He also set in a book about Slorgs. Then he closed the lid, but not tightly, so Pickle could breath. "Don't make any noise!" Zeebo whispered to him. "Jelly's here!"

      Like I would, thought Pickle. I'm a Slorg. I don't make noise. Ugh, this book is squishing me into the side of this tiny box. How much longer?

      * * * * * *

      "Oh, Zeebo!" cried Jelly, the baby Uni. "He's wonderful!" She was holding Pickle. It was the best birthday present she'd ever received! "What is his name? Does he have one?" she asked.

      "Yes," replied Zeebo, "he does have a name. His name is Pickle." Zeebo continued grinning.

      "Wow!" exclaimed Jelly. "Pickle-what a funny name!" She giggled. "It suits him perfectly, `cause he's green! Just like a pickle!" Jelly giggled again. "Come on, Pickle! Let's go have some cookies in my room." She picked up Pickle and the book on Slorgs. "Hmm," she said, "if I'm going to take good care of you, Pickle, I'll have to study this book. I study best while eating cookies. What about you, boy?"

      Pickle smiled. I like cookies, he thought. I study good while eating cookies! I think I'm going to like living with Jelly… Come on, Jel! Let's go 'study'…

      * * * * * *

      Pickle learned to know and love Jelly, and Jelly learned how to take great care of a Slorg. Somehow, she had also learned how to understand Pickle, so they could communicate together.

      "Pickle," said Jelly one day, "how do you like living with me? I mean, it's been a whole year already…" It was Jelly's birthday, a year after Zeebo had given her Pickle.

      Pickle smiled at her. I couldn't have asked for a better owner, Jelly, he told her. Living with you is a million times better than living in a display case in a Slorg gallery!

      They both giggled. "Good Pickle," said Jelly, "because I couldn't have asked for a better petpet!"

The End