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Maybe the world won't accept me. Who knows, maybe they aren't ready. But, is
that any reason to just shove me away? Distant... I wasn't always; I am now because
of the people who never have, and probably never will accept me. I tried; I could
have won if I were someone else... but I'm not. I am me, and that is clearly the
way it's going to stay. Remember, I tried to belong... maybe I will one day...
no. No room for people like me; I am too much of an outcast. One of these days,
all the people I know will become rougher; the places I recognize will fall, only
to keep me away. You, as well, won't be needing me. So, let me be... I'm myself,
the number one outcast with no friends. Know something? Maybe I like it better...
well, even if I don't, I'll get used to it... they've made up their minds that
they don't want me, so I'll leave them all... It's time to leave, before I disappear...
*******************
The sun was nowhere in site… it was just grey… all grey.
It was not very welcoming, but in all truth, how welcoming can a color so gloomy
be? I used to think it couldn't be at all, but what did I know? I was a simple
child, lost in world of eternal dreams. But the dreams would never come true.
I wished and hoped and even prayed that they would, but they didn't. Because
look at me now.
Darkness has won me over… inside and out. The
path of righteousness has faded, along with my aspirations.
I am an outcast; cursed to wander by day, hide
by night… never to show my face to another being. My identity was lost centuries
ago… wilted like a rose, destined to stay away for the rest of time.
I don't want to care about who I am, or what
my purpose is, but there's always been that sprouting seed deep inside my heart.
I yearn for the facts… but I have to come out of isolation to get them. And
I've been living in this state for so long, so how can I do it? It seems impossible…
**********************
The raindrops fell upon Neopia Central, sending a feeling of darkness throughout
the land. Most retreated to their homes; owners preparing hot chocolate and
rainy-day snacks as their bored pets stared out the window… watching the droplets
of water parade around the glass.
But I didn't have a home to retreat to. I sat
on the derelict muddy path, drenched and shivering. I didn't quite care about
this, though; I had much more important things to fret about… survival the major
one.
"What has this world come to?" I whispered.
My voice was drowned out by a sudden clap of thunder, and slowly I dragged myself
off the path and plunked down under a leafy tree. I then resignedly slid to
my stomach and rested my chin on the soaking wet grass. I laid there like that,
thinking about an assortment of things, 'till morning welcomed itself with even
more rain.
*********************
I didn't want to move, despite hearing two different pets talking slightly
in the distance. Their voices were perky and giggly, and I could straight away
tell that they were children.
"Naive beings," I muttered, my eyelids drooping.
"They think they're dreams are going to come true -"
I was interrupted when one of the voices cried,
"Look Ellie, there's a green Kougra just lying there! Are you okay, Mister?"
It was then when I met the gaze of Kaylyn…her
blue eyes full of curiosity, yet at the same time, complete and utter fear.
"Are you okay, Mister?" she repeated.
"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, swatting a dead leaf
from my cheek.
"What's your name?" she asked.
I stared at her, taken aback. My name?
"I don't know," I replied, my voice blank.
Kaylyn started giggling, and her eyes swam with
amusement. "You're funny, Mister!" she exclaimed.
I wanted to retort, but held my tongue. She
was just a little girl…how would she know I was telling the truth?
"What's your name?" I simply inquired.
"Kaylyn… well Kaylyn4890Neo, but that's sure
a mouthful, so I just like to be called Kaylyn." She then gestured back towards
the pathway, where a Christmas Cybunny was standing. "That's, Ellie778NeedsCarrots,
but we all call her just Ellie."
The Cybunny raised her left paw and waved demurely.
"Hi," she said, and then forced a weak smile.
I did not wave or say anything back, but instead
merely glanced at the obviously uneasy girl.
"Sooo," Kaylyn began, "what really is your name,
Mister?"
"I told you, I don't know," I snapped.
She frowned. "Are you serious? I've never met
anybody who doesn't know their own name!" She laughed for a moment.
"I'm serious… okay?" I growled, glaring at the
Acara.
"Well sorry, Mister… hey! That's it!
Mister! You're name shall be Mister!"
I cocked my head, letting the word 'Mister'
settle in. It was a plain name, yet had a graceful ring to it. I smiled at the
little girl. "My name is Mister."
"Oooh!" she squealed. "You have a name now!"
The girl pulled me into a hug. I felt awkward… sitting there in the pouring
rain as a child wrapped her arms around me. I knew you were supposed to return
a hug, but I didn't. I just sat there.
Suddenly, Kaylyn pulled away and turned towards
Ellie. "Oh gosh! We have to get to school!" she yelped.
The Cybunny nodded. "Yeah, duh… let's go."
Kaylyn glanced at me one last time. "I'll meet
you here after school… please wait for me."
She then walked back onto the path, and she
and Ellie bolted off.
I sat there, the reality of what happened sinking
in. I had just let a little girl name me, as I sat there, looking dumb, and
then promised to stay in one place so she could meet me later.
"Oh what have I done?" I murmured. The only
answer I got was from thunder overhead.
*********************
I didn't stay under the tree. Only a matter of minutes later, I rose to my
paws and walked off. It was a casual walk, and I was trying to look as if nothing
had happened. But inside, my heart was breaking into tiny pieces… like shattered
glass.
Kaylyn would be back… waiting for me. And she
could sit there forever, but I'd never return. No… I couldn't think of her.
I wiped a forming tear from my right eye, and then continued down the path.
************************
The rain cleared up by the end of day, and all that remained were puddles.
The sun glimmered from overhead, and my fur soon dried… just in time for nightfall.
The night wasn't particularly dark tonight… the moon illuminated Neopia Central
in a memorable kind of way. Like it was a mother, cradling her baby in her arms…
protecting it from the world.
But I ignored the beauty of it all, and simply
was thankful for the light. I wouldn't have to walk in pure darkness.
I was about to sit down on a wooden bench (where
I decided I would spend the rest of the night) when somebody tapped me on the
shoulder. I swiveled around and gasped at what I saw.
Standing there, smiling sheepishly was a young
Acara with yellow fur.
"Kaylyn! How'd you get here, Kaylyn?" I demanded.
She shrugged. "I dunno…"
"Yes you do know…tell me."
She tilted her head back and forth. "Promise
you won't be mad?" she asked. I nodded, although I was not entirely sure. I
had ventured so far, and yet this Acara -- this young, childish Acara -- had
followed me.
"Well… I sorta walked a little with Ellie, but
then said that I was gonna take a rest 'cause I was tired and that I'd meet
her at school. But I was kind of sort of lying to her, 'cause I actually went
to hide in the bush to see if you were gonna walk by."
"But you thought I was staying."
"Adults look down on kids… all the time. They
think we're so naive, but we're not, Mister. I was gonna wait and see if you
were different than all of 'em."
I sighed. "I'm not, Kaylyn, so why did you follow
me?"
"Because, Mister, I wanted to! I wanted to see
where you lived! I thought you might live somewhere new and unusual - 'cause
you didn't have a name and all - but well, you ended up here." She wrinkled
her nose.
"Sorry, but I'm not some extraordinary pet,
and anyway, you've most likely got your owner worried sick."
Kaylyn shook her head slowly. "I don't have
myself a true owner, Mister."
"What exactly do you mean? Every pet has an
owner!"
"Do you?" she inquired.
"No… but I mean… you're just… you're just a
little kid. You're some defenseless kid… and if you don't have an owner, then
who were you with this morning and how do you attend school?"
"Ellie's some girl I know… nothing more than
that. And I attend school b-because I found a notebook and pencil and a few
other things at the Money Tree and I signed up for school a-and," she paused
for a second, "forged a phony owner's name on the sign-up sheet."
I stared at her, stunned into silence for a
moment. Earlier I had thought she was an innocent little girl, who lived with
a caring owner and had a picture-perfect life. But I was wrong. "I'm
sorry Kaylyn," I finally whispered.
"Don't be sorry, Mister… it's not your fault."
I plopped down upon the bench and buried my
face in my mud-caked paws. And I had thought that I had it bad. At least I had
been loved for the first years of my life…
I felt a warm paw sling around my shoulder,
and I didn't even to look to see who it was. Who else could it be but Kaylyn?
"Mister," she said, "I'm sorry that I make you
sad."
"No," I muttered, "you don't make me sad. You
make me happy."
"If I make you happy, then why do you have your
face in your paws?" she questioned.
I slowly brought my face up and turned towards
her. I then smiled, as if to prove my point. "Kaylyn, how would you like an
adventure?" I asked.
"Ooh!" She broke out into a grin. "I'd love
an adventure, Mister! What would we do on the adventure?"
"Find out who I really am." My voice was relaxed,
as if it were an everyday thing that you ventured off to find your true identity.
"So you mean like… find out if you're name isn't
really Mister, but uh… Bobbylouaglo?"
I nodded, amused by the girl's choice of name.
Bobbylouaglo… one of a kind. Just like this kid.
To be continued...
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A/N: Hey everybody! ^^ Thanks for reading the beginning of my brand-new
series=D The quote at the beginning was written by my friend, Lily, and I have
her permission to use it. Neomail me with anything about it; comments, questions,
concrit etcetera. I shall see you in part two/my inbox! ^_^
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