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Grey Girl: A Diary

by Kiara

4th Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

I have begun what my owner calls a “Lab Ray Journal,” but I prefer “Diary” to “Journal”, don't you? Anyway, my name is Keleilah, and I'm currently a red gelert. Sometimes people call me Kelly or Lila, but I like my full name just as much. I have a great owner named Melissa, and she just got the lab ray! And I found out I'm going to be the lab rat, since she can't bear to part with the colors of my siblings. I've got a brother and a sister: Oliver the Fire Wocky and Jaz the Cloud Poogle. But even if she was willing to part with them, I still would have volunteered to be zapped. I love adventure. In fact, I crave it. I'm willing to try just about anything. That's probably why I have so many friends, Sapphire the Electric Lupe being my best.

Today's zap was uneventful. I gained 3 strength points.

- Keleilah

5th Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

Lost 2 movement points. How boring. Being zapped isn't really all that painful, but it does send a jolt down your spine. It gives me an adrenaline rush, which I love.

Sapphire came over today, expecting to see a new look. When she saw me, though, she seemed rather disappointed. But it was okay, because then we began joking around as usual, and we chased her Babaa around the neohome, making a huge mess out of the kitchen. Melissa was okay with it, thank goodness, although we did end up having omelette for dinner, since it was too messy for her to cook. At least it was my favorite kind of omelette - sausage and pepperoni!

Hmm…I think I'll only write on days I have interesting lab changes.

- Keleilah

13th Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

Finally, something has happened! I changed color to Christmas! My nose and antlers are kind of embarrassing, but I admired my new brown coat. Melissa doesn't like it too much, however. It's probably the accessories. Sapphire doesn't like it either; I could tell by the way she started giggling when she saw me. So, back to the lab I go. I don't mind too much. I've grown used to the pain - it doesn't hurt at all anymore!

- Keleilah

14th Storing, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

Well, that was fast.

As I approached the lab ray today, the Evil Scientist seemed to have a glint of malice in his eyes, even more so than usual. I felt my stomach twist a tiny bit, but I decided it was nothing to worry about. I stepped under the ray, he let out a malevolent cackle, and BOOM! I felt my shoulders sag, my ears sag, my knees buckle, and my eyelids droop. What was happening? Melissa looked amazed. While we were walking home, people gawked at me. As we passed a small pond, I gawked at myself, too. Because my once gleaming fur had become matte, my eyes were red and bleary, and my nice brown fur was now grey.

And yet, in a way, I was still beautiful. This did not match my cheery personality at all, but it was definitely different. I enjoyed all the attention I was getting. I can't wait to show Sapphire tomorrow!

- (A very happy) Keleilah

15th Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

I am definitely not going back to that lab. But I've decided to keep writing in this diary anyway. It's pretty fun, and I can say absolutely anything here without anyone knowing. So, today I showed Sapphire my new look. Her mouth fell open and we hugged joyously, although I know I must not have looked all too joyous. We went out for a walk, and people stared. They didn't seem to be staring unkindly, although I did get some rather strange looks. A little Baby Chia even grabbed her owner's sleeve, tugged, pointed to me, and said quite loudly, “LOOK AT HIM!” The pointing didn't deter me too much, though I felt the need to yell back, “I'M A HER, NOT A HIM!” Thankfully, the Chia didn't start crying.

I don't know. Although some of this attention I'm getting is negative, I still like it. Being a rare color is lots of fun, and everyone benefits from it! I think.

- (Still happy) Keleilah

21st Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

Today, a stranger looked at me, muttered, “Oh, you poor thing,” and gave me a bag of neopoints. Sure, it wasn't a lot, only 10, but still. I was quite surprised. Why did she do that? She felt sorry for me? I was willing to bet it was because of my color. But just because I look grey on the outside doesn't mean I'm feeling grey on the inside. I still go on adventures. I still play with my White Gruslen. I still smile and laugh and talk and do all those normal things other pets do. I love to party and dance.

People need to learn that you can't judge a book by its cover. Looks can be deceiving, you know.

- (A bit disappointed…) Keleilah

26th Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

Something disturbing happened today.

Some of Melissa's friends were over at our neohome for brunch. As I descended down the stairs, I found that all of them had already arrived, chatting merrily and nibbling bread as my owner prepared the Fluffy Faerie Pancakes, which happened to be a favorite of mine. They all looked up upon hearing me walking down the stairs, and they simultaneously gasped.

“Oh my gosh, Mel, is that her?”

“She's incredible!”

“Wow, you're so lucky!”

As the group swooned and cooed over me, I tried to remain modest, but I couldn't help grinning arrogantly. Fortunately, they couldn't even tell that I was smiling. While they were doing that, one of them remarked, “Hey, Melissa, you know what you should do? You should enter her in the Beauty Contest.”

Another piped up, “Yeah, she would definitely win. Everyone would feel so sorry for her that they'd practically feel obligated to vote!” After that quip, cruel, bitter laughter erupted among them. Melissa forced a smile, but then her expression turned thoughtful.

“Maybe I will…”

And that's when I knew I couldn't handle it anymore. The staring, pointing, and yelling that I had once enjoyed were now annoying and hurtful, and I didn't want it anymore. So I devised a plan. I'll tell you whether or not it was successful.

- (A determined) Keleilah

30th of Swimming, Yr. 6

Dear Diary,

The plan worked. Well, kind of. I am now a happy Rainbow Gelert, a color that suits me absolutely perfectly. It's been bliss walking around like a normal pet again. Even Sapphire is happy for me with this color. Oh, yeah, you still don't know how I did it, right? So let me tell you.

My plan was simple: to sneak out to the bank late at night, while Melissa was sleeping, and steal 30,000 neopoints. Then, I would buy a Blue Paint Brush, go to the Rainbow Pool, and paint myself blue. Too easy!

It failed. She woke up as I was attempting to sneak downstairs. “Ke….lei…lah?” she said groggily, staring at me through half-open eyes. I knew there was no way I would get away with it now. So I did the only thing I could. I got on my knees and begged.

“Please, please Melissa, let me become a different color! I hate being grey. It's so depressing, and people keep staring at me funny, and...I just don't like it, okay? I don't care if you keep zapping me or just paint me green, just not grey.” I was sobbing. Melissa took a long look into my eyes and said, ”Okay. If that's what you want.” I shrieked in relief, clung to her, and wept.

So she bought a Rainbow Paint Brush, and now it's all good. Sapphire and I hang out a lot, and all my other friends love my new look. And when I see a grey pet walking down the street receiving odd looks, I offer them a kind, understanding smile.

- (A very happy and relieved) Keleilah

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