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Quinton the Quiggle did not ask much for his items. A
couple Neopoints for a carrot, or a couple for a crisp apple. That was all.
He did not demand thousands for a lickable piece of paper like his friend, Old
Gil, who ran the profitable stamp business, nor did he earn a living selling
expensive school supplies, as did his Techo friend, Brainstorm. All Quinton
ever wanted was some customers in his shop once in a while to make him happy.
And he was.
Quinton lived in a leafy green Neohome just a
hop away from the Neopian Marketplace. It was not much-it was all he could afford
off of a lowly shopkeeper's pay-but it was home to him. Well, a second home,
at least. Quinton's real feeling for home lie with his place of work: the Health
Food Shop.
It didn't have a fancy name, nor was it hugely
advertised. It was a quiet shop near the back end of the Neopian Bazaar, near
Pizzaroo and the Wishing Well (one of Quinton's favorite places to relax at).
Shaped like a juicy piece of fresh broccoli, the Health Food Shop was not necessarily
a very popular place to shop at. Aside from Quinton's friends and some newbies
who somehow ended up there, nobody shopped at Quinton's humble health food market.
But that was all about to change.
The bell sitting on the top of the clear glass
door jingled as the Kiko walked into the store. The Kiko was up at the cash
register counter faster than the bell's soft ringing faded away.
He had on a pair of red earmuffs, which looked
rather awkward, seeing how he had no ears. His white skin had turned slightly
blue due to the cold snow outside, and he used his mitten-sporting hands to
brush off some excess flakes that had stuck onto his body.
"Nice touch with the bell, there, Quint," said
the Kiko, winking. "It really gets you in that holiday mood."
"Hey!" said Quinton, looking up from the magazine
he had been reading. He sat behind the newly-bought cash register on a stool
with red ribbon wrapped around its legs, reading the latest issue of Quiggle
Comics. He wore a dark red scarf around his neck, and had a nice pair of fuzzy
Cybunny slippers on. As his eyes met the Kiko, he was overjoyed.
"Nice to see that you're enjoying work today,"
said the Kiko, picking up one of the mini Potato Plushies that lay on display
beside the shiny cash register. "Slippers, scarf, hot cocoa-the whole bit!"
"Yep!" said the happy Quiggle, putting down
his magazine and picking up a blue and white mug from beside the Potato Plushie
display. It was filled with hot brown cocoa that steamed from the top. "So what
brings you here, Steb?" asked Quinton, grabbing a few miniature marshmallows
from a bag underneath his desk and dropping them into the hot cocoa.
It was a wonderful shop, that Health Food Shop.
If you immediately entered the shop, you would be confronted with 4 aisles of
yellow-stained wooden shelves, packed with healthy goods. On the yellowish shelves
were fruits and veggies of all kind, ranging from the traditional Green Apple
to the wacky Spherical Watermelon. If you were not tempted by anything on these
shelves, though, you could make your way past the aisles and to a wooden counter
where the cash register, and often times Quinton, resided all day.
"Hmmm…" said Steb, turning to a wooden shelf
that protruded from the forest green wall. "Well, I'll have to be honest with
you, Quinton. I originally came here to buy some Artichoke Fondue for my owner,
but wow-this store..."
"What about it?" asked Quinton, raising one
eyebrow.
"Well… where's the spirit?" asked Steb, turning
back towards the Quiggle. "I mean, you've got that bell that's somewhat holiday-related,
but haven't you ever wondered why you get no customers this time of year?"
"I thought it was because I sell health food,"
said Quinton. "I know it's not the favorite item of most Neopians, but I try."
"Oh, come on, Quinton," said Steb, irritated.
"You work in a building shaped like broccoli."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Well, people like to go to shops that they
know are…." Steb stopped speaking when he saw the dumbfounded look on Quinton's
face. "Okay, example time. The Food Shop has a Christmas tree out front made
entirely out of cheeseburgers. Kiddo, the Toy Store Lupe, dresses up like a
menorah for Hanukkah. And have you ever heard the Nimmo from the Book Shop sing?
That's one frog that can really carol."
"I don't see your point," said Quinton, who
was about as confused as a Geb in Happy Valley.
"DECORATE!" shouted Steb, throwing up his stubby
hands. "Get some spirit into this piece of broccoli! Have a holiday sale, put
up some lights-get into the holiday spirit! Who are you, Sloth?"
"But how?" asked Quinton, walking around the
counter to face the Kiko. "Where can I get decorations?"
"That's already taken care of, my dear friend,"
said Steb, winking. Suddenly, he turned towards the door and shouted, "Okay,
fellas, bring 'em in!"
In through the double glass doors came a herd
of Chias wearing hard hats and carrying huge brown boxes with stickers on them.
Quinton peered at the boxes that were being randomly placed in piles all over
the store. The sticker on each read "Fine Furniture."
"Steb," said Quinton angrily, "What's all this?"
"Elementary, my dear Quinton!" said Steb happily.
Quinton glared at him. "Okay, I'm just kidding-I kind of…erm, thought ahead
and bought decorations for you."
"With what money?" asked Quinton incredulously.
"Um…" smiled Steb, scratching his head. "All
of your profits."
"WHAT!?!?!?" Quinton screeched, although Quiggles
weren't necessarily great screechers. "Steb, you're getting that money back."
"Well, the thing about that is…" began Steb,
"There's no refunds."
Quinton slumped down to the floor as he stared
at the huge boxes that continued to pour into the store. Finally, after what
seemed like five minutes (just kidding-it was), the Chias ceased to fill the
store with boxes of Christmas decorations.
"So, Quint," said Steb. "I promise you this.
If you put up all these decorations, you will get more customers. I swear it."
Quinton sighed, looking at his situation. The
Quiggle sat on the floor of his store, surrounded by huge brown boxes and a
Kiko with a negative IQ. Knowing he couldn't do anything else with thousands
of Christmas lights and seasonal lawn gnomes, he nodded.
Both Quinton and Steb walked over to one of the
boxes near them and ripped it open. It was time for some serious redecorating.
***
"Good evening, Neopia, and Happy Holidays! This is Lawrence Luper, and I'm
standing outside of what might be the oddest sight many Neopians will be seeing
this season."
The handsome Lupe was reporting in front of a
huge crowd consisting of hundreds of anxious Neopets. At his side was a green
Eyrie with a ruler clutched in his claw.
"We have here the owner of Fine Furniture, Neopia's
premiere sellers of, well, furniture," said Lawrence, patting the Eyrie on the
back. "Sir, can you tell us how you're involved with this story?"
"Well," said the Eyrie, "I received an order
yesterday for one thousand Christmas lights, three hundred Seasonal Lawn Gnomes,
and ninety-nine Plastic Firs, all to be delivered to one place, and well-I delivered
them."
"I see…" said Lawrence. "Well, we'll have more
on this breaking news story later."
"Um… what breaking news story?" asked the Eyrie.
"All you're reporting on is a decked-out store."
Lawrence cleared his throat. "Can we please have
this kind Eyrie escorted out?" Immediately, two huge Skeiths came and carried
the screeching Eyrie away from the news reporter.
"Now," said Lawrence Luper, "Back to this incredible
story about a Quiggle and his store…."
***
Quinton the Quiggle owned a Health Food store shaped like a huge piece of broccoli.
It was a very popular place for teen Neopets to hang out, as well as a great
store for self-conscious Skeiths to splurge at. Many Neopians did all they're
shopping there because of the healthy items and cheap prices.
The owner, Quinton himself, brought in the NP
faster than you can lose at Scorchy Slots. He did well with his co-owner, Steb
the Kiko, as the two kept their business running for many, many months.
However, the one great thing about the Health
Food shop, amidst the great atmosphere and wonderful bargains, was Christmas.
Every year, the two owners would go into the back room and get out one thousand
Christmas lights, three hundred Seasonal Lawn Gnomes, and ninety-nine Plastic
Firs.
Every night during the Month of Celebrating,
Neopets would flock from all over to see the fruit of the two pets' labors.
It was a grand sight -- the Health Food shop was so bright, it could be seen
from the Virtupets Space Station. Nowadays, Quinton's shop is one of Neopia's
most famous attractions during the winter season.
After all, it's not every day that you see a
piece of broccoli with Christmas lights on it.
The End
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