Roodoku - Letters from Roo Island

     Rumors are quite annoying, if you ask me, but I'm pretty sure you didn't know that you didn't know that, did you? Pish posh, some Blumaroos have a nasty habit of hearing things they shouldn't and I'm pretty sure most everyone in Neopia has a unfortunate habit of passing on whatever it is they shouldn't be hearing, but that's just me, I suppose.

     Anyhow, the rumors these day- goodness me, they've really gotten quite ah... rumor-sy? So sorry, I've been getting quite off track here, what is just so extraordinary about Roo Island is that I heard that King Roo is looking for a new Blumaroo Treasurer. It was about one of the first things I heard when I arrived here, by ship; my old friends just couldn't wait to tell me all about it. I must admit, though, I didn't quite believe it until they showed me a flyer handed out by the King himself:

     To All Blumaroo Subjects of the kingdom of Roo,

     Warmest greetings to all.

     It is my unfortunate duty to inform you all that the hiring of our old Blumaroo Treasurer, Head of Dice-a-Roo has been quite disastrous. Now I am in the position of needing another Head of Dice-a-Roo, one who I can wholly pour my trust into. Any who wish to take up the challenge of being the Head of Dice-a-Roo may call to the Merry-go-Round grounds to take a test. I must warn any who wish to take the test that it is not an easy one, and to complete requires great skill and cunning. You may take the test all of the rest of this month. Good-luck and good-bye.

     Signed, King Roo

     Now, this advertisement has piqued my interest greatly and I would like to inform you that I am quite interested in attempting the test that the great King has set forward for us all. I'm going to the Merry-go-Round grounds on the morrow.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

***

     Dearest ex-owner,

     The Blumaroos administering the test turned me away. Needless to say, I was very displeased and left immediately to go, ah, feel better... Anyways, I spent the rest of the day in the Souvenir shop, trying to make all-time low deals with the shopkeeper. By the time I left, I think that the shopkeeper was quite relieved to see the back of me. Hmm. I must admit that I purchased several items of curiosity, which include a charming fluffy blue dice, a stylish blue blumaroo chair, and a darling dicearoo replica trophy, whose shininess is just so. All of these items are quite fabulous, and I have no doubt whatsoever that you will think otherwise when I show you later.

     I plan on returning tomorrow to take the test, but if I am turned away once again, who is there to deny me the chance to visit the Souvenir Shop yet again? The shopkeeper? Pah, let him try.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

***

     Dearest ex-Owner,

     I was finally able to enter and be given the test, but I must say it was quite fascinating. I expected difficult questions, maybe over a hundred or so all about the history of Roo Island or perhaps some questions that required arithmetic skills or in depth-knowledge. I was wrong on all accounts. Oh, that sly old King! I'll tell you what was on it, it was just so blissfully shocking to find:

     It was a Roodoku puzzle, a test of not knowledge or cunning, but logic! We rule under a quite clever King, do we not?

     Unfortunately, due to some, ah, personal business, I handed back the test and left before I could make an attempt. I don't quite know what got into me, but after my departure, I returned to my home. I was quite tempted to pay a second visit to the Souvenir shop, but I managed to resist the urge and drive myself home- aren't you proud of me? I promise, I solemnly promise to set out early tomorrow to take the test for real this time.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

***

     Dearest ex-Owner,

     My attempt went somewhat successfully to say the least, but the whole time I was quaking with nervousness.

     By the time all of the pre-sharpened pencils and Roodoku test papers were handed out, I was melting in a pool of sweat. It was quite disgusting, really. You'd think they'd also hand out some, oh, water bottles maybe, right? Well, all I got was a second piece of paper, blank this time, and was told by a mortified Blumaroo to “freshen myself up”. Bah.

     It was just so embarrassing that I was ready to bolt out of the Merry-go-Round grounds and jump in a lake. Truly, I was.

     Anyhow, I turned back to my test and began. For the next hour or so the only things running through my mind were the numbers 1 through 9 and the phrases, “No, it can't go there...” to “Over here” to “Yes, that's it” along with some other variations of the three. It was excruciating work. When I finally mustered up the energy to hand in the paper, I was exhausted. By the time I was clear of the Merry-go-Round grounds, I felt the urge to cry. What if I had misplaced that 2 in the wrong square? Then the 9 wouldn't have had to be next to it... etc, etc. I was just so slated on the thought that I got it all wrong. It was such a rotten feeling that... I want to the Souvenir Shop. Yeah, that's how bad it was.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo.

***

     Dearest ex-Owner,

     I will be visiting some friends across the Island for two weeks, and I will not be able to contact you by any means. Please accept my sincere apologies.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

***

     Dearest ex-Owner,

     My visiting time with my friends is drawing to a close and I haven't seen you in a little less than a month! I'm setting off back to my house back in central Roo Island tomorrow. Everyone has been quite kind, though you're the only one who I've told about my Blumaroo Treasurer attempt. I'll send you some more details tomorrow when I have the chance.

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

***

     Dearest ex-Owner,

     What a time I have had! Over the last few days I have had the most fun I have ever had in my life. This whole trip has been terribly exciting, but the most exciting thing to report is the result of the Roodoku tests. I was pleased to be notified that I was not chosen to be the Blumaroo Treasurer, but why pleased, you ask? Well, I'll try to explain.

     You see, over the duration of my stay with friends, I convinced myself that I was better off not being the Blumaroo treasurer, as it would be far too much responsibility and if I was chosen for the position, I would resign immediately. To tell you the truth, I was just ever so slightly disappointed, but let bygones be bygones.

     I received a letter of thanks for taking the test. I earned a close place to the Blumaroo treasurer, actually. And the King sent me 10,000 neopoints, very generous of him. I think I'll go celebrate by spending these neopoints; don't you think that's a nice idea? I have a well thought-out plan on how to spend it, because really, that green fuzzy dice I saw the other day in the Souvenir Shop? It's quite fabulous!

     Yours, Tahaero Blumaroo

The End