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Shelly stared impassively down at the grinning Kougra,
mentally evaluating his current financial status. Judging by the fact that his
coat was ragged and dirt covered, the Gelert was able to make an educated guess
that this pet had nowhere near the correct amount of money to buy the Moltenore,
not that it was for sale, anyway.
"I WANT THIS!" the Kougra shouted. "GIVE IT
TO ME!" he demanded.
"Hey!" Shelly shouted, glaring at the Kougra.
"What do you think you’re doing? Didn’t you read the sign?" She jabbed a shadowed
paw at a large sign that hung directly above her head. It bore the slogan "No
sticky paws!"
"Put that back where you found it!" she barked,
her paw straying over to the Attack Fork that the Grarrl had left for her to
deal with overly abrasive customers that was leaning against the desk. The Kougra
persisted.
"It’s, like, a shop, lady! Like, lower your
prices! I, like, want to buy this!" he said, holding up the Moltenore. "I’ll
give you thirty Neopoints and a toy sailboat."
"It isn’t for sale," Shelly said icily. "And
unless you want me to whack you over the head with my Attack Fork, I suggest
you put the Moltenore back where you got it from."
The Kougra scowled at Shelly before sticking
his tongue out at her and storming back to the shelves, where he set the Moltenore
down and then left the shop in a huff. Shelly relaxed back into her chair, still
fuming. She took a moment to calm down, appreciating the calm silence before
a loud shout broke it like a cheap plate.
"HEY!"
Shelly wearily gazed down at a cross Poogle,
her arms crossed over her chubby little stomach.
"What?" Shelly asked, plopping her head down
on her paws. The Poogle glared at Shelly, puffing out her chest.
"I’M REPORTING YOU!!!!! YOU’RE A SCAMMER!!!!
AHHH!" she howled, flailing her paws about in the air.
Shelly raised an eyebrow, regarding the Poogle
with distaste.
"It’s called a gallery," she calmly replied,
determined not to lose her cool.
"NO! YOU’RE WRONG! YOU’RE TRYING TO SCAM ME!!!"
Shelly had just about had it. She grabbed the
Poogle by the scruff of her neck, and drew her in until they were practically
nose to nose.
"Look, kid. I don’t know who you think you are,
but this is a gallery. Or, in stupid, idiot, and nincompoop terms: A shop that
displays items for others to look at." Shelly waved a paw at the trophy case
that stood proudly off to the side of the gallery. "As you can see, it has won
the Neopets gallery award. So, unless you want me to report you for shop keeper
abuse, I suggest you get out of here." Shelly released her hold on the Poogle,
who fell to the floor and bounced once before giving Shelly a frightened glance
and scampering out the door, not daring to look back.
Shelly chuckled, and leaned back in her chair.
This job wasn’t so bad, in fact, it was rather fun. She got to yell at people
and then get paid for it! It was like a dream come true!
That was what she thought before she saw
the line of over two hundred angry Pets who either wanted to buy an item that
wasn’t for sale, or threaten to report her and the shop.
***
The Grarrl smiled as he returned from his lunch break, pleased to see that
his shop was still standing. He whistled merrily, walking leisurely up the steps
to the door. He pushed it open and stepped inside. By now, the customers had
all dispersed, but his new clerk was still there, sitting faithfully behind
the desk. He approached her slowly, pulling out his wallet so that he could
give the Gelert her salary.
"Oh, Gelert! I’m back from my lunch break. So,
how’d it go? Were the customers okay?"
Shelly turned around slowly in her chair, her
face deathly pale and her eyes dull. Her paw twitched compulsively and the corners
of her move jerked nervously.
"No sir… the item is not for sale. It’s a gallery,
ma’am. Put it down, sir… put it down, it isn’t for sale. Put… it… down…" she
said in a dead monotone. The Grarrl sighed sadly as he picked up the limp Gelert
in his claws.
"This is the eleventh time that this has happened
to my shopkeepers. I’m starting to think that my gallery isn’t even worth the
hassle anymore," he lamented.
The Grarrl paused to glance at the NeoHome address
engraved in Shelly’s collar before stomping off towards it, still carrying the
weak Gelert. He finally reached the house, and knocked on the door, setting
Shelly gently down on the doorstep and then hurrying away before the door opened.
Ezanna, a skunk Krawk, was the one who threw the door open. Upon seeing Shelly,
he grinned and shook his head.
"Ah Shelly. She always did enjoy hard, honest
work." He glanced back inside the house. "Hey Sunny! Shelly’s home!"
Sunny came out onto the doorstep and caught sight
of her Pet, lying spread-eagled on the stone. She sighed sadly and picked Shelly
up, carrying her back into the house.
Shelly awoke about an hour later to find herself
surrounded by her concerned family. Shelly glanced up at her owner, frowning
apologetically.
"I’m sorry Sunny, I couldn’t earn the money,"
she whimpered. Sunny smiled.
"Actually, Shelly, I never really intended for
you to actually earn the money. I knew that you wouldn’t be able to, I just
wanted you to learn that Neopoints are valuable and that you shouldn’t waste
them." Her warm expression suddenly melted into a hard, stern one. "Is that
clear?"
Shelly nodded. "Oh yes, it’s very, very clear.
I promise to never spend money foolishly again!" The Gelert assured. Sunny grinned.
"Glad to hear it."
From across the room, Ezanna gave a low, impressed
whistle as he read the latest announcements on the News page. "Wow! Look at
this, you guys! They just released island Gelerts! How cool."
Shelly grinned and leapt up off of her bed. "Ooh!
I want an island paint brush!"
The End
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