I'm Going To Make Things Right

      I stood in the doorway of my safety deposit box. Clutter filled every inch, items ranging from old Neggs to 500,000 Neopoint scrolls saved from my earlier years. My Neopets stood silently in the doorway, taking in the mess.

      “AAAA-CHOO!”

      Dust flew everywhere as the handsome Island Kougra sneezed. Eying a stash of omelettes, he yelled over to his brothers.

      “Guys! Jackpot right over here! I call the Chokato!”

      Cries followed, each Pet saying what flavor they wanted. I knew they might be a little TOO willing to defend what other families might simply call “dibs”, but these guys were battle trained and hungry.

      I'd just returned from a year or so long hiatus, and my Pets were in a sensitive state. They knew I'd never abandon them... or would I? I could only imagine what was running through their heads. They hadn't eaten in a long, long while, despite the massive, overflowing locker of food. And the dark bags under their eyes suggested that nights had been spent without sleep.

      I sat down and watched as they scarfed their eggy prizes, and I wondered if I had been irresponsible. I'd left them! But it's not like I had a choice... School work had been piling up, my real life under stress, and I had to say goodbye to Neopia for a while. I regretting leaving, that was for sure. Could I even trust myself to stay with them if they needed me?

      Of course I could, I reassured my own mind. And it's time that this family reunites.

      “Alright, boys!” I said as I stood up, emerging from the distant world of my thoughts. They stuck their messy heads out of the pile, leaving only tiny scraps behind them. At least the Petpets in here would enjoy eating those up, I mused. “I'll brush you, and then we should go.”

      “Go where?” Replied Chris, the Split Draik in a confused manner. His snout had bits of hot peppers attached to it, and I had to suppress a laugh. But I couldn't hold back my loving smile. I reached foreword and stroked behind his long ears.

      “I'm going to make things right.”

      Bloated from their immense meal, the pets were in a dazed stupor, making them easy to brush. A quick look through the Deposit Box found a bar of Pumpkin Spice Soap and a Sponge Grundo Sponge, which I used to bathe my Neopets until they had an aura of Autumn scent and a shine. After their bathes, we decided to put on some nice clothes. Ryan Jack, or RJ the green Lupe loaded himself into his Meridellian knight gear, which he insisted was “light”, and his favorite beanie. Lopez had on his island gear and a pair of white shorts, while Henry the Speckled Eyrie wore his usual Brightvailian scholar's robe. Chris had a complete makeover, and seemed to enjoy the change; now he sported a black derby, cane, and bow tie with a dashing Gothic jacket.

      Handing each of my pets a box, I explained the plan for the day.

      “OK! I know it's been a while.... but I think... umm...” I stumbled on my words. This was so awkward! I'd abandoned them, then I expect them to do chores for me? I took a deep breath and tried again.

      “What we're going to be doing is dropping off some books to donate, taking a Negg to the Neggery, and shopping in Neopia Central. If you don't want to come, that's okay, and I understand, because what I did, an-”

      RJ interrupted me, putting his massive green paw on my shoulder.

          “Jessa, it's OK. We're coming with you. Right guys?” He smiled and turned to look at his brothers. Lopez and Chris slowly nodded, while Henry frantically searched through the boxes of books.

      “It's okay, I read them all!” He said triumphantly, earning himself a glare from Ryan Jack. “Um, I mean yes! Of course!” He muttered.

      I smiled. “Great! Thank you! Now let's go!”

      “According to the Neopian Times, Granny Hopbobbin will be collecting donations of books at the Spooky Forest, from approximately 8 AM NST to 9 PM NS- OOF!”

      Ryan lightly tapped Henry's shoulder, but the vast difference in strength between the warrior Lupe and bookish Eyrie was still enough to send him sprawling to the ground.

      “We get it, nerdy boy! Now, let's go.” RJ said with a grin, extending a paw for Henry. With a glare only a furious Eyrie can muster, Henry got off of the ground and brushed the dirt off of his long robe.

      “We're here anyway, dorks.” Chris called out, pointing to a dark, looming tree in the distance. His Gothic jacket matched perfectly, and he looked at home in the woods. Suddenly, I realized; how could I have missed it? He'd always been interested in the scary, spooky things, even when he was just a hatchling; I must have been too preoccupied in my own selfish leaving to see. But his dreams were being fulfilled here, his eyes wide with awe.

      “Alright, let's look for signs of Granny.” As we walked deeper, I could see a few old posters for attractions in the carnival, but no signs of the loving grandma.

      A reptilian voice seemed to crawl into my ears. “Sssssssssscratchcard, misssssssss?” Ryan flattened his ears and hissed at the tall, lanky figure; he was dressed in rags with blue skin. Ryan's muscles rippled in the flesh visible under his armor, while Lopez's eyes gazed over the Nimmo with thought.

      “Hey, man!” Lopez said, his casual Mystery Island accent deflecting his cautious look in his eyes. “Sid, right? Nice to meet ya.” He said, extending a fluffy paw.

      “Ssssssidney!” The scratchcard dealer yelled with an air of indignation. “Ssssidney. Now, sssscratchcard or no?”

      “We'll pass” Ryan growled, placing his claws in an attack stance. “Now leave us alone! We have places to go.” Although the Lupe's harshness took me aback a bit, I was proud. His knight training had done him well, and he could be trusted to keep shady strangers away from the family.

      I was tempted to channel my inner sass and turn on my heel, but I realized that we could use this slimy salesman to our advantage. We were stuck in the middle of a haunted, endless forest. At least he lived here and could be a decent guide. If we had the correct bribe.

      “Wait, sir! I'm sorry. He's a bit edgy.” I cast a scornful glance at RJ, but added a wink so he knew I had a plan. I could see his muscles relax, but he kept them tense for the look of being offended. “I was really hoping you could help us... We have Neopoints, of course.” I batted my eyelashes, and I hoped I had an innocent look.

      Sidney looked intrigued. “Well, I ssssssupose that if you could pay the correct amount of Neopointssssss... Let me ssssee.” I handed him way more points than I was comfortable with, but I tried not to show my horror and instead covered my face with that of a worried traveler. If I had learned anything in my time in the real world, it was how to act. I suppose my ruse worked; that, or he was simply taken aback by the number of neopoints. Sidney took the Neopoints from my hand with a smirk.

      “Up there........” Pointing with a crooked finger, Sidney showed us a torn poster with the elderly Acara's face loosely tacked to a tree. “It'll show you directionssssss..... that's all thessssse petty Neopointssssss will afford.” With that stinging remark, considering I had poured at least 5,000 NP into his greasy hands, he walked away with jingling trousers, not bothering to pick up the coins that were falling out of his sewn-on rag pouches he called pockets. Lopez bent down to pick them up and placed them in his furry palm with a sigh. Chris turned around, snatched the poster from the tree, glanced at it, and shoved it into his jacket pocket.

      “Well, we're heading this way.” He said with a voice dripping with annoyance, and I didn't feel the need to respond.

      Carrying considerably less boxes now that our books had been dropped off to help the needy Neopians, we walked on with a sense of pride knowing we could help the less fortunate. Our next stop would be the Neggery, I told the slightly weary but determined crew. RJ peered into the boxes with a confused look on his face.

      “No need for that, the Negg's gone.” Ryan Jack announced solemnly.

      “What? That's a shame. Well, its okay. It was only worth one token.” My eyes moved across the boys. “Did any of you see it fall out?” Suddenly, my eyes locked on Chris, who had something on his dual-colored snout...

      “Chris? Did you eat that Negg? Were the omelettes not enough?”

      “Well, a few square inches of free Tyrannain imports aren't going to quite fill us up after a year or so of starving, will they?”

      I was shocked into silence. Why.. no. I'd earned that horrible remark. Even from the Draik I'd found as a tiny, unborn egg on the shores of Krawk Island and raised. His life flashed before my eyes; making a pilgrimage to the Draik nest, holding his small, shivering body after he'd been hatched, reading him stories as I tucked him into his bed at night...

      I ran faster so that the group couldn't see my tears.

      The chatter of the group wasn't interrupted by my deafening silence, but as we kept walking, we slowly approached Neopia Central. We had no real reason to be here; I just figured it'd be nice to treat the pets after what I'd done to them. It wouldn't make anything up, that much I knew. But they deserved something.

      We had walked around looking into shops for a while, Ryan munching on a fresh chocolate Korbat from the Chocolate Factory, Henry bumping into things as he tried to read his book and walk, and Lopez and Chris chatting side by side. I hadn't really spoken to them; just a few words at a time. I was still so shaken up by Chris's words. Even if I knew they were earned.

          The toy store was right up ahead; I figured this would be the perfect place for my fun loving- Kougra to pick his choice object. Muttering something and plastering on a smile, we walked into the shop and were greeted by the Lupess shop keeper. Lopez walked around marveling at the toys; while Chris stuck his hands into his pockets and browsed quietly.

      Lopez came up to me asking if I could buy him a yo-yo, I nodded and walked up to the Lupess with my Neopoints in hand. Suddenly, I heard a quiet noise coming from behind us. Lopez turned around as we payed, letting out a gasp and sinking his claws into my arm. Turning from the exchange holding the new yo-yo, the pain from the full force of a Kougra's claws was forgotten as I saw Chris sitting on the ground, weeping. Sitting in his lap was a tiny Draik shaped play set.

      He ran up to me and pulled my jacket, while laying his head onto my shoulder. He'd grown; he was almost as tall as me now. A mixed emotion swept over me at the thought that he was growing up.

      Flashbacks of caring for him years ago hit me so hard, I hoped I didn't flinch.

      “Mom... I'm sorry...” He said, his tears streaking down his face and onto my clothes. And I grabbed him and gave him the biggest hug I could muster. Looking back now, I realize he'd never called me mom before. I think at that moment, we both knew how damaged we'd been lately. I just set my head on his shoulder and we wordlessly cried into each other. I noticed Lopez paying for the play set with the coins he'd held onto from Sidney, then he came over and joined our hug.

      1 week later

      I looked into the room, where my Neopets were relaxing. Henry was sprawled onto the floor with a book, RJ thrusting a foam sword, Lopez encouraging Ryan on with a smile and cheers, and Chris, in his Gothic jacket, moving around a small plastic Draik.

      And I knew that things would work out.

      The End.