Could the Lenny face Extinction?

by Tuamigo the Shoyru, with some help from his owner, toosdazechild

Hello, my name is Tuamigo Shoyru. The other day, as I was checking out the Jacuzzi in the Mountain Lodge, I overheard a rather heated debate between two pets. I walked over to the Lenny and Chia having the discussion, and asked what was the matter. The Chia shoved a piece of paper in my face and cried, "What do you care - you're number 3!!" I didn't understand what she was going on about, so I looked more closely at the paper. Apparently, the new population figures had just come out, with the Chia relegated to 21st place among all species of NeoPets. As she said, Shoyrus were in third place yet again.

At first I didn't see what all the fuss was about, or for that matter, why the Lenny would be so upset. Then I looked down at the bottom of the paper and saw the Lenny had gotten the dreaded Wooden Spoon Award. Forty-first place. The least popular of all the pets around. I looked at the sad Lenny and offered my apologies, but nothing consoled him. "I'm even less popular than the MOEHOG!!!" he exclaimed. It was then I realized the seriousness of the problem.

The Chia, (who wanted her name withheld from this article), was very upset because she felt she deserved to have a higher ranking, and be more popular than 21st place. "What do we have to do to get some respect? Who is it that tumbles around in that Bingo machine so people can win NP? The Chia! Who braves the outdoors, no matter what the weather is like, to tell people how it is outside? The Chia! Who offers the most food in all the shops in Neopia? The Chia! Who runs the Stock Market? A Chia! We do more than our share around Neopia - the thankless jobs that no other species would want - and for what? Besides, we're certainly one of the cutest species around. Why aren't there more of us?"

The Lenny couldn't take anymore. "What are you complaining about?!? Look at all the things the Lennys do. We offer Trivia and Conundrums to keep owner's minds active. We run the Ice Food Shop. We used to run the Video Store, before that got moved to the boondocks! Now, no one can find it! Now we get the Wooden Spoon! Nobody loves us at all!! It's only a matter of time before we end up like...like...the Mellish!!!" He was too choked up to continue. I slowly walked back to my hotel room, thinking about the conversation.

I hoped what the Lenny feared wasn't true. Just because they were the least popular, that didn't mean their fate would be the same as old Mel. For those of you that are newbies, the Mellish was a species of NeoPet that existed long ago. It was basically a red-headed, freckled-faced young boy, dressed in flannels of various colors. It, too, was the most unpopular of pets. Now, the only mention of him is the book, "Good-bye Mel." The Mellish is no longer around, and the Lenny I spoke to must be worried that the same may happen to him and his kind. I would hate to see that happen, wouldn't you?

As for the Chia, she probably has less to worry about. They are still very popular, although not as much as they used to be. I think the Chia and Lenny do lots of good for all of Neopia, and they should be awarded the respect they deserve. If you are in need of a pet, why not create a Lenny or Chia? They are worlds of fun, and are both very smart species. Sure, the Lenny isn't as cute and cuddly as a Kacheek or Shoyru, it's not as pretty as a Peophin or Cybunny, it's not even as tough as a Grarrl or Lupe, but it's got heart - and that should be what counts. And the Chia - while not as smart as a Nimmo, or as quick as a Poogle, is very cute and friendly. So, please, help take the Wooden Spoon away from the Lenny - and give it to those darn Grundos! (Just kidding, guys!).