The Weewoo in Jail

     He knew things could have been worse because ultimately, they weren’t terrible. He’d been getting his food bowl topped up regularly through a small door that remained locked most of the day. He had his own private bath in which the water was changed daily and he even had a short ladder that he enjoyed climbing up and down on to pass the time.

     But Wiley wanted more than that! He missed the feeling of the fresh breeze rushing through his white wings as he lifted off into the air and the taste of the grubs he would find in the soft soil after another wet Autumn afternoon. He missed the delightful sun warming his feathers as he sat on his favourite branch as he and his friends gave an early morning chirp to welcome a new day.

     To be honest, he wasn’t sure as to how he had ended up in this difficult situation. All he remembered was falling asleep in the warmth of the nest he’d built, tucked away in the depths of a tall tree and hidden behind the foliage. But then, the next morning, he awoke startled to find himself staring out at his new world from behind grey bars.

     Over the next few days, he began to take note of this new world around him. Once Wiley’s small, black eyes adjusted to the lights that glared down on him from above, he began to realise he wasn’t alone. From his small cell, he knew he was in a large room. Shelves were towering around him, full of different items, and from what he observed there was an array of food, scratching posts, toys, brushes, and, to his dismay, bones.

     But, most importantly, what he’d come to notice was the company he had around him. Behind what looked like glass cages pushed up against the walls were bouncy, noisy Noils that seemed to enjoy their entrapment as they chased after each other’s tails. There were the Kadoaties which sat beside each other waving their tails as they glanced around the room. Wiley didn’t understand why people seemed to like them so much because all they did at night was cry, and during the day all they did was beg for food. There was a Hasee which sat smiling as it nibbled on its slice of melon from behind its own glass cell and beside it, also locked away, much to Wiley’s approval, was a Cobrall that looked like it would eat him up in an instant.

     Wiley saw Babaas running around in a small wooden pen, Spyders instinctively spinning webs despite their food being dropped into their temporary homes free of charge, and Baby Blus gliding through the water in their tanks. He even thought at one point that he’d caught a glimpse of the rare three-eyed Petpet, Triffin.

     He realised after about a day or so that he was in a Petpet Shop. At the front of the shop, standing behind a large counter, stood a lady whom Wiley had seen every day since his imprisonment began. He soon realised that she was in charge here. Her youthful face and shining eyes were a contrast to the world Wiley felt he was in. She seemed friendly and all of the interactions she’d had with Wiley so far, had been nothing but nice! She even pet the feathers on his small head the previous time she’d changed his bath bowl. Wiley found he enjoyed the interaction.

     Every so often a small chime would ring indicating another customer was entering the shop through the door to the outside world. Each time the door opened, a rush of air blew past Wiley’s face. The lady behind the counter would greet the customer with a warm smile before she took them around the shop, showcasing all of the Petpets on display.

     The little Weewoo sat still each time the strange customer and the lady walked closer to his cage. As they peered at him through the bars, Wiley would tilt his head as if to question what they were staring at. He’d hear them talking about him and the customer would ask questions as if to understand what he was like. After each short interaction, the guest would shake their head and they’d turn their backs and walk away. Eventually, Wiley would hear the excited giggles and chatter as the guest fell in love with one of the cuter Noils, the elegant Kadoaties, or the graceful Baby Blus.

     The small Weewoo couldn’t help but feel disappointed each time they walked away from him. He’d worked out that this was his way of escaping. Each day he watched as the other Petpets were carried away in their new owner's arms, looking so excited to finally have a permanent home.

     Wiley had never experienced that feeling of having a permanent home. He had always been on the move, whether it to be to find more food or just to go on an adventure to explore the world around him. But each time he was forgotten in his cage, all he wanted in the world was to find a home.

     So, as a new person walked into the store each day and Wiley’s confidence grew in his new surroundings, his personality began to shine through. Each morning he’d clean his pure white feathers in his bath until they shined. Each time he heard the chime of a new customer entering the store and felt the breeze blow on his face, he’d chirp, singing the morning songs that he and his friends used to sing together daily. He’d play on his ladder and swing on his swing, anything to show his playful side that before he’d only shared with the outside world.

     As a few more days passed by, the little Weewoo began to feel defeated. He knew he should never give up, but after seeing the other Petpets find homes -- even that scary Cobrall! -- he began to lose hope.

     It was then that the door was pushed open and a young boy with tousled hair and freckles dotted all over his round face walked into the store. Following him inside was the most beautiful pet he had ever seen! Wiley stared in amazement from behind the grey bars that separated him from such beauty.

     As always, the lady behind the counter greeted the little boy and his pet and began walking them around the shop. Wiley heard them talking, but didn’t pay the conversation enough attention. His eyes were glued to the feathers of the White Pteri that followed the boy around the store.

     The group of three stopped in front of the yapping Warfs, but the boy immediately shook his head. They made their way over to the oh-so-popular Kadoaties which seemed to charm everyone, but the boy again shook his head. He wasn’t impressed by the Babaa, or the Spyder, or even the rare Krawk which had arrived the day before.

     Wiley held his breath and fluffed his feathers up a little as the group made their way towards his cage. He lifted his small chin up high as the little boy stood in front of him. The Weewoo let out a chirp and shuffled around on his rail. Wiley turned his eye to the beautiful Pteri which seemed to be nudging its owner with its wing.

     He watched as the boy looked down at his pet, and a knowing smile began to grow on his lips.

     “I want this one!” The boy chimed as he clapped his small hands together.

     Excitement immediately rushed through Wiley’s small frame at the words he’d never thought he’d hear, and he let out a song of chirps. The Pteri responded with its own song. Wiley knew in that moment that he’d made a new friend.

     The lady took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the small grey door that had kept Wiley trapped for what felt like an eternity. The little Weewoo stretched its wings, a feeling he believed he would never experience again. He pushed himself off the rail with his short legs and gracefully flew out of his entrapment and onto the shoulder of the little boy.

     Wiley was overwhelmed with joy as he began to nibble on the boy's ear, causing him to giggle.

     The boy handed the lady some Neopoints and she smiled, nodded, and thanked him. She gave Wiley one last pat on the head before the boy walked back out the door, carrying little Wiley on his shoulder.

     Though Wiley was excited by the warmth of the sun streaming down on him from above and the crisp outside air, nothing could control how he felt about having a family. The boy, the White Pteri, and Wiley the White Weewoo made their way down the streets of Neopia together to his new home.

     Wiley let out another song of chirps, and he was sure that somewhere in the distance, his friends were still chirping alongside him.

     The End.