Summer Sorrows
by charmedhorses
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It was the last day of the school year at the local Neoschool
and inside its brick walls the students could barely contain their excitement.
Nor did they try very hard. In one extra special class, that of Mrs. Flash,
a growing chatter had already begun.
"What are you doing this summer?" one Neopet asked.
"We're going to Happy Valley! I just can't stand this heat."
"My owner says she's going to install a pond in our Neogarden!"
another exclaimed excitedly.
While her fellow classmates discussed their plans one very
unhappy mutant Cybunny sat in the front row of the class. From her seat she
had the best view of the blackboard, but all it said, in big white print, was
'HAPPY SUMMER!'. Buffy wasn't one to complain, but she couldn't stop a frown
from forming on her face. Where were the math equations? She always loved an
algebraic challenge. And what about a reading assignment? Something to keep
them busy?
It may be the last day of school, she thought,
but that is no excuse for slacking off… Mrs. Flash isn't even doing anything
about it... If anything she's encouraging it! … Passing out cookies, Buffy
scoffed. They should be studying.
Hunched over in her seat Buffy refused to participate in
the festivities. What fun was celebrating the end of school? Deliberately avoiding
eye contact with the other Neopets in her class, Buffy stared down at the wood
of her desk. Perhaps she could turn back time. No, that wouldn't work. She wanted
to learn new material, not redo old. This truly was a predicament she decided
unhappily.
"Buffy, are you alright?" It was the voice of Mrs. Flash.
Traitor, Buffy wanted to say. "Yes," she said instead.
"Well, you don't look it," Mrs. Flash said with concern.
"It's just the end of the school year, you know. Not the end of the world."
Buffy shrugged. Mrs. Flash was probably just as excited
to get away from Neoschool as all those silly classmates of hers.
"Well, here's a list of recommended reading," Mrs. Flash
said, setting a packet of papers in front of the Cybunny. "I figured you'd be
feeling a little under the weather. Anyway, this should keep you busy."
Though Buffy was flattered by her teacher's thoughtfulness,
it only lessened her depression a fraction of a bit and when the final bell
rang, marking the end of school, she gave Mrs. Flash a weak smile.
"Thanks for everything."
"You're welcome, Buffy. Now have a good summer!"
**********
"Tracy, Buffy's being a grump bucket!" Buffy's sister Monica complained to
their owner over dinner that night. "Look at her sulk. She's bringing the whole
family down just because she doesn't have any homework to keep her occupied."
The faerie Ixi scowled at Buffy.
Buffy didn't say a word, but remained with her eyes on her
plate, willing her green peas to roll off and into the land of distasteful vegetables.
"Pfff," Chandler, a baby Chia babbled from the other end
of the table.
"See, even Chandler's annoyed," Monica said.
Tracy eyed Buffy closely. "Aren't you happy school's out?
You work so hard during the year you deserve a break every now and then."
"What am I supposed to do?" Buffy asked, finally breaking
her staring match with the peas. "Summer's supposed to be all about being lazy
and all I want to do is work!"
"Didn't Mrs. Flash give you a list of books to read over
the summer?" Tracy asked. "Tomorrow we can go down to the book store and pick
some of them up. I know how much you love to read and that ought to keep you
busy for at least…a couple days."
A spark of excitement caught fire in the mutant Cybunny
and she eagerly abandoned her plate to study the list and place a check mark
by those books that she wanted to look for.
The next day Buffy practically bought out the bookstore,
buying everything within reach that appealed to her eager mind.
Once home she rushed to her room with bag in hand and embedded
herself in the dark blankets of her bed as she began to read. All thoughts of
homework and summertime sorrows were erased as she entered the land of imagination
and adventure.
For a whole week Buffy remained spellbound by the pages
and left them only for meals and the occasional bathroom break. However this
trance was broken when Buffy read the last word of the last page of her last
book and came to the terrifying realization that again she had nothing to do.
"Tracy," Buffy began once she had found her owner. The
Cybunny studied her large paws as she tried to look relatively innocent. "I
read all the books you bought me."
"Wow! Already? Good job!" Tracy praised.
"Yeah, but…Now I have nothing to read," Buffy countered.
Tracy sighed deeply, sensing that this was not going to
be the answer Buffy was looking for. "Buffy, I don't have enough Neopoints to
buy you any more books. I spent most of it on your shopping spree the other
day."
"Oh." So again Buffy regressed into a very sorrowful mood,
mulling around their Neohome in search of things to do. She read everything
she could get her paws on, finding the recipes in one of Tracy's oldest cookbooks
a bit dated but interesting nonetheless. However by the time she had finished
reading the ingredients on all their cereal boxes she was a bit bored of nutritional
facts and found that her appetite had all but disintegrated. (Most likely from
those startling proportions of who knows what.)
At dinner that night Monica was in no way shape or form
happy to see Buffy sulking again. "Tracy," Monica started. "Buffy's doing
it again."
"Doing what?" Tracy asked.
"She's pining over schooldays gone by."
"Now, now. Be nice to your sister," Tracy said. "You could
be a little more supportive you know. Why don't you guys do something together
tomorrow?"
The faerie Ixi made grumbling noises but finally offered,
"Want to go to the beauty parlor with me tomorrow? I'm going to get my hooves
polished."
"Oh my gosh. Like most definitely," Buffy mimicked in a
high tone of voice. Then in a normal one, "No way."
"You guys are too much," Tracy said, leaving the table to
put her dishes in the sink.
"Did you know that there are 200 calories in one piece
of bread?" Buffy asked, perking up a bit.
"Really," Monica said flatly.
"How interesting," Lucy, Tracy's pirate Krawk, and the
mediator of the family commented. "So how many would be in a whole loaf?"
"Don't encourage her," Monica sassed.
"Well…" Buffy thought this over. It didn't take her long
as she quickly calculated the problem in her head. There are about 10 slices
of bread per loaf, which would mean 200 times 10. Simply add a zero and you
have… "2000 calories!" Buffy announced.
Slowly Buffy's mood was lifted as she was given more and
more challenging questions regarding the foods set out on their table. By dessert
she was worn out and there was hardly anything left to figure out. Everyone's
minds were filled with nutritional facts and whether or not they really should
have eaten that second helping of potatoes.
With her mind momentarily worn out Buffy retreated to the
confinement of her room, where she collapsed on her bed.
**********
The next morning Buffy awoke to a revelation. If I miss Neoschool this much
there must be some other Neopets who feel the same, she decided. What if we
all get together and make some sort of substitute Neoschool?
Anxious to begin gathering support for her new idea, Buffy
hopped to breakfast with a spring to her step that had been missing before.
Things were looking up and the Cybunny wanted to start as soon as possible.
"My, don't you look happy," Tracy commented over their
homemade waffles.
Buffy beamed. "I'm going to do something about my situation."
"Sichooashion," Chandler imitated.
"Good for you," Tracy said as Lucy nodded in approval beside
her.
Monica snorted in disgust. "What are you going to do, start
your own Neoschool?"
"Something like that," Buffy admitted.
"Good luck," Monica said. "No Neopet in their right mind
would want to go back to Neoschool during the summer."
Tracy shot a disapproving look at the Ixi, who pretended
not to have seen it. Then she turned to Buffy. "That sounds like a wonderful
idea."
**********
A half an hour later Buffy stood on the stairs of a house belonging to her
first prospect. Buffy wasn't exactly the "social" type and as a result wasn't
good friends with many of the Neopets she attended school with. She hoped that
wouldn't stop the Moehog inside from seeing her point and coming back to Neoschool
in his time off.
Taking a deep breath Buffy raised her paw and knocked softly.
There was no answer and she couldn't hear the rustle of a Neopet inside so she
knocked again; louder. When for the second time there was no answer Buffy practically
kicked the door down as she knocked. Though she may have gathered the attention
of some neighbors, no one came to the door and so the mutant Cybunny continued
on her mission.
At Buffy's next stop, a big tan house belonging to the class
jester: a green ixi, she wasted no time in pounding at the door. After her previous
visit Buffy was surprised to find the Ixi came right away. This must be a
good omen, she thought.
"Yeah?" the Ixi asked.
"Er, hi," Buffy said awkwardly. No matter how many times
she had rehearsed her speech in her mind she hadn't expected it to be this hard
to recite. "Well, it's summer now. As you know."
"Duh."
"Right, well, I'm trying to start a replacement school.
You know, something to keep us students busy during the summer so we don't get
rusty and forget all our skills," Buffy said, getting straight to her point.
"Do you want to join?"
"No way," the Ixi said, giving her a funny look. "That's
why they have summer school."
Buffy's eyes widened in surprise. "What did you just say?"
"I said, 'That's why they have summer school.'"
"Summer school? What's summer school?" Buffy was practically
in hysterics.
"It's for Neopets who need extra help. Or for schoolaholics
who just can't live without Neoschool." The Ixi rolled his eyes.
Buffy blushed, aware that she was one of the latter. "Right,
well, sorry to bother you!"
**********
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Buffy exclaimed to her owner when she
had arrived back at home. "If I had known there was summer school I wouldn't
have had to go through all this grief!"
Tracy wasn't sure what to say. "I didn't know you were interested."
"Didn't my plan sound remotely like something called summer
school?"
"Yes, but I thought you wanted to do it on your own. An
independent study or something. Anyway, it's no big deal, right? Just go down
to the Neoschool and sign up. I'm sure it's not too late."
Buffy did exactly that, but was surprised to find that her
usual teacher, Mrs. Flash, was nowhere to be found.
"Excuse me, but isn't Mrs. Flash working here?" Buffy asked
the Draik who had helped her sign up.
"No, dear. She doesn't work during the summer. I'm going
to be your teacher. My name is Mrs. Cart."
"Oh," Buffy said, slightly disappointed. "Nice to meet
you."
Buffy began summer school immediately, and found a seat
in the front of the class where she had a good view of the blackboard. Just
like usual.
For their first lesson Mrs. Cart covered the history of
Neopia Central, describing how it had resulted from the need for a common meeting
place where everyone could come together as a community.
"Does anyone know who founded Neopia Central?" she asked.
No one knew and it was assigned as an extra credit question
due the next day. Buffy made a mental note to research it that night.
Summer school wasn't right for everyone, but to the Cybunny
sitting in the front row, eagerly scribbling notes in her tablet, it
was a dream come true.
THE END
Author's Note: This story was written as a part of the Issue 150 short story
crossover. The characters included in this story were used with permission from
Tracypaper12, who owns them. Special thanks to Tracy for loaning them to me-they
were wonderful to write about and I hope I did them justice.