Pigglet the Mallard

Throughout our times in Neopia, we see and hear very bizarre things, of course! Maybe you've seen Snorkles fly, or you've heard rumors that Doctor Sloth has a sister, but a Mallard named Pigglet? This is most likely the silliest thing you've ever heard. But perhaps, maybe that is what makes Pigglet so very special....

It was a cold January day, as Lilah (who was only a small yellow Kacheek at the time) walked slowly down the hustling and bustling Neopian Marketplace. She waved and smiled to all the strangers and their Neopets. She shuffled her feet upon the wet pavement, and looked around at neverending rows of shops and stands. It was the after-Christmas sales, the second busiest time of the year.

All around you was the scent of happiness: you could see Neopets everywhere throwing snowballs or riding their sleds. You could see Neopians taking down their Christmas trees inside their Neohome. You could see warm fires lit in fire places from afar... and you could feel the season of giving in the air.

Lilah smiled at everyone that passed by. Not even Eliv Thade himself could frown during this time. It was just so lovely, so cheerful. You could hear the sound of laughter and happiness everywhere.

Lilah walked with her mother, who had grasped her hand unusually tight.

"Now Lilah..." her mother reminded her, "hold on to my hand tightly. It's very busy today, and I don't want you to get lost." Lilah nodded.

As she and her mother walked along the streets, a red Shoyru was advertising his shop. "Come one, come all, for loads of fun! The annual Petpet sale has just begun!" he shouted.

Lilah glanced over at the small wooden stand, looking at all the petpets. But her mother continued walking, ignoring the shopkeeper.

"Mommy...?" Lilah asked. "Could we please go look at the petpet stand?"

"Yes, sweetie... but we're only going to look. We don't have any Neopoints to spend on a petpet. After all..." her mother added, "Christmas just ended. So we are only there to look. Not spend."

Lilah nodded, and they approached the petpet stand.

There were dozens and dozens of petpets of all shapes and sizes. Lilah was astounded as she looked at the rows and rows of petpets in their little cages, all laid out on the stands. She felt as if the rows of petpets would never end.

As Lilah turned her head, she noticed a little Mallard inside a silver cage. She smiled.

"Hey there, little fellow..." she whispered softly to the Mallard. He looked at her, and started to tweet a happy tune. Lilah squealed; she wanted this petpet more than anything else in all of Neopia.

"Excuse me, sirs," Lilah whispered to the shopkeeper. He turned, and grunted at the little Kacheek.

"What can I do for you, miss?" he asked.

"How much is this petpet?" she asked him, in a quiet voice.

"Ah, this one?" he asked as he pointed to the Mallard. "He's 1,200 Neopoints. But he's on sale for only 900 today!"

Lilah sighed. "Thank you sir..." she said in disapointment. Lilah only had 100 Neopoints with her; nowhere near what she needed.

She knew not to ask her mother. Her mother has already stressed the point that they were only there to look. Lilah knew that her mother would automatically say no. For a little while longer, Lilah looked at the other petpets.

"Lilah!" her mother called. "Time to go!" She noticed Lilah's frown. "Come on now... we still have to visit a few more stands!" her mother said happily.

Lilah noticed a bag in her mother's hand. "What's in there?" she asked.

"Ah, it's chocolate milk, and a few other goods. It's a bit heavy, though... I can't imagine why. Now let's get going!" her mother said cheerfully.

Lilah turned to wave goodbye to the Mallard, but he was no longer there. Lilah wanted to cry.

Oh no! she thought. Someone must have already bought him!

The walk home was not very pleasant for Lilah. The scent of happiness turned into the scent of sadness. The strangers waved to Lilah, but she did not smile nor wave back. The Neopets that were having fun were just blurrs. Lilah had lost all of her cheerful and happy spirit.

When they finally arrived home, Lilah's mother set the bag down.

"I have a surprise for you Lilah!" her mother said, excited. Lilah, still upset about the Mallard from the petpet shop, faked a smile.

"Oh, mom, you really didn't have to... you know, I-" But she stopped as her mother pulled the Mallard out of the bag. Lilah squealed with delight.

"Oh mom!" Lilah cried, as she took the Mallard out of her mother's hands and hugged it as tight as possible. "Thank you so much!" she said, as she hugged her mother, with the poor little Mallard smooshed in between them.

Lilah looked into the little Mallards eyes. She wanted to cry; but instead of tears of sorrow and loss, they were tears of happiness and joy. She now had a petpet, a friend, to call her own. Nothing could make her feel more special than a companion.

As Lilah began to open the door to their Neohome, her mother stopped her. "Lilah, what happened to the chocolate milk I had in this bag?" her mother asked.

Lilah was puzzled. "Are you sure it's not in there?" Lilah asked. Her mother sighed.

"It's not there..." her mother said, sadly.

"Well, what else was in the bag? Is anything else missing?" Lilah asked.

Her mother looked in the bag. "Well, I had some carrots... the milk, of course ...a few books ...hmm ...and-" her mother stopped.

Suddenly, both her mother and Lilah looked at the Mallard, who, to their suprise, had chocolate milk all over his face. They both burst into laughter, and the Mallard began to chirp. They were still unsure about why he was chirping; whether he was confused, or he knew that they had discovered his little secret.

The little, tiny Mallard had drank all of the chocolate milk. Every last drop of it.

After laughing for what had seemed to be, forever, they entered their Neohome. Lilah's mother put a small little petpet bed where the christmas tree had been. She then lit a small fire in the fire place. Meanwhile, Lilah played with her new friend.

Lilah's mother then brought the Mallard and her a plate of Aisha Angel Cookies, and set it on the floor next to her. Lilah took a cookie, and bit into it.

"Mmm...Aisha Angel Cookies! My favorite!" she smiled. The little Mallard, noticing there was food there, quickly waddled to the plate.

"My, my!" her mother laughed. Lilah giggled as they watched the Mallard gobble up the rest of the cookies. They laughed as he tried to wipe the crumbs off of his face.

"Sweety, have you named your darling Mallard yet?" her mother asked.

"No, actually, not yet... maybe we should do that now!" Lilah said happily.

"How about... Mallardy?" her mother suggested.

With a giggle and a big grin, Lilah shook her head. "No... how about, Pigglet?" Lilah asked, as she laughed.

Her mother nodded, and Pigglet chirped softly.

Lilah lifted Pigglet up and smiled. "How about that name? Pigglet? Do you like that name?" Lilah asked her new friend.

Pigglet began to chirp that same tune he had tweeted at the petpet stand. She smiled. "I'll take that as a yes!" Lilah laughed.

Every petpet has something that makes them special. I guess in Pigglet's case, it's not only his name, but his appetite.

THE END