Addison, a brown JubJub, sighed as he sat underneath the large Maple tree. He so wanted to join in the fun that the other pets were having at the Neopian Pound playground. He looked down at his book and went back to reading. At least he tried. He couldn�t read with all the laughing and fun going on. Peaking out from behind his feet, he looked over at the playground again. He could see a bunch of pets lined up at the slide stairs. One by one, he watched pets slide down and squeal with delight. They went down the slide sitting, on their tummies and even upside down!
His attention was turned to the swings. Higher and higher the pets flew on the swings while the older pets were pushing younger pets! The teeter totter was moving rapidly up and down, the pets on it laughing. Addison even noticed a group of girls playing dolls. He wasn�t much for dolls, but at this point any fun would be better than no fun at all.

�Hi Addison!� shouted Patty, an orange Quiggle, as she waved to Addison.

�MEEP!� squealed Addison, hiding himself behind his feet.

Patty noticed this and thought Addison was very odd. But she shrugged it off and went back to playing.

�Oh my goodness, she spoke to me!� Addison thought to himself.

He wasn�t used to other pets speaking with him. Normally he just sat off by himself and watched the happenings around him. Sometimes he read books to occupy his time. Addison really enjoyed reading. He read books about all kinds of stuff. His favorite books to read were adventures with heroes!

�I wish I could be like those heroes,� Addison sighed to himself. �Then I would be with the other pets playing.�

The fact was Addison wasn�t anything like his heroes. He was Addison, the very shy JubJub. He was so shy that he always hid behind his feet. He never spoke with anyone unless he had to. When he did speak, he used such a soft voice, that others had to strain to hear him.

Addison continued watching the other pets play until they were all called in to lunch. Peaking from behind his feet, Addison watched until the last pet when inside. Then he stood up, grabbed his book and went inside as well.

�Oh I do not want to go into the dining area!� Addison thought in a panic.

To face all those pets in one place! He just couldn�t do it! Addison decided to go to his room instead. He shared his room with Murray, a pirate Meerca. Except for when they have to go to bed, Addison has managed to avoid being in the room with Murray. Since everyone was at lunch and then would go back outside to play, Addison didn�t have to worry much about Murray coming into their room.

Addison walked over to the bookshelf and picked out another book to read. Of course, he chose an adventure. He was going back outside under the Maple tree to read again.

*GRUMBLEEEE* went Addison�s very hungry tummy!

�I better get something to eat!� Addison said to himself.

Addison walked over to his little dresser. He opened a drawer and took out a tiny bag of rainbow colored candy. He managed to buy some candy when Ms. Cupcake had taken some of the pets to the main shops.

�This should fill me up for a little while,� Addison thought to himself.

�Hi Addison! Wanna play ball with us?� came a voice from behind him.

Addison turned around in surprise, spilling his bag of candy. Right there stood Murray, holding a bat and ball.

�MEEP!� squealed Addison as he sat right down and hid behind his feet!

Murray just looked at him for a moment, then turned and walked out of the room.

�Oh why? Why didn�t I say yes?� Addison thought in distress. �All I had to do was say yes!�

Addison looked down sadly and noticed rainbow colored candy pieces all around him. Slowly he began to pick up the candy.

Since Addison came to the pound, he has managed to avoid contact with people. For the most part anyway. There were occasions he couldn�t avoid them. Like when the teacher called on him in school. Oh that was the worst! He shuddered just thinking about it!

*GRUMBLEEEE* Addison�s tummy went again.

Addison finished picking up the candy and decided that he needed to get something to eat. He couldn�t last until supper. Addison decided the only thing he could do was sneak down to the kitchen and get some food. Surely everyone was attending to other business and no one would be around the kitchen.

Addison walked as quietly as he could to the kitchen door. He cautiously looked around and saw no one. Slowly, Addison opened the door. He peaked his head inside and saw the kitchen was empty. Addison went into the kitchen and stood there a moment. This was the first time he had ever been in this part of the pound. The kitchen was a nice big room with all the things a kitchen should have. A stove, oven, refrigerator and counters�
Addison noticed what lay on the counter ahead of him. A plate full of sandwiches! His tummy gave a grumble of joy, as Addison headed straight for the food. He picked one up and took a big bite.

�A purplum and cheese sandwich! My favorite!� Addison thought excitedly.

Addison ate the first sandwich quickly and reached for a second one.

�Whoa now, young fellow,� a cheery voice from behind said. �You�ll spoil your appetite if you keep eating like that.�

He was caught! Addison left the sandwich and spun around abruptly! He came face to face with Mr. Pickles, the pound chef!

�MEEP!� and down went Addison to hide behind his feet.

�There now,� Mr. Pickles� cheery voice spoke. �No harm done. I just don�t want you to spoil your supper.�

Addison took a peak around his feet to see Mr. Pickles standing there, smiling at him. So Addison returned Mr. Pickles smile with a small shy smile of his own. Mr. Pickles lifted Addison to a standing position and handed him another sandwich.

�Now be off with you so I can finish getting supper ready for this evening,� Mr. Pickles said with a smile.

Addison walked out of the kitchen in a state of shock. Even though he had hidden himself, Mr. Pickles still spoke to him.

Addison decided to take his sandwich and go outside to sit by the Maple tree. In fact, he thought he would have a little picnic! He went back to his room to get his book and headed outside.
When he came to the Maple tree, he sat down and got himself situated with his sandwich and his book. He had just started reading when he noticed some voices coming from somewhere behind him.

��yeah, he just doesn�t talk to anyone,� came a familiar voice.

Addison knew it was the voice of his roommate, Murray.

�I�ve said hi to him before and he just ignored me,� came the voice of Patty.

�I think he�s just stuck up. He thinks he�s too good to hang around with the rest of us,� came a voice Addison didn�t recognize.

�Well what makes him think that? Patty replied. �He�s no different than the rest of us.�

�Yeah, that�s why he was dropped off at the pound. No one wanted a pet that thinks he�s too good for them,� replied a very heartless voice.

�It�s because he is just stupid,� came yet another unfamiliar voice. �If he doesn�t want anything to do with us, then fine. I say we just ignore him.�

Addison was stunned! He felt a soaring pain right into the depths of his heart! They didn�t understand! He never thought he was too good for them! He wanted to be friends! Addison looked down at his book and sandwich. Tears welled up in his eyes. He wasn�t very hungry anymore and he certainly didn�t want to read about his hero anymore either. Addison�s lips started quivering as he tried his very best not to cry. They didn�t understand. No one did. And now no one liked him any more!

�Addison?� came a gentle voice.

Addison looked up with tear filled eyes and quivering lips. Ms. Neostorytelling was standing there with a look of concern.

�They don�t like me,� Addison whispered as tears spilled from his eyes.

Ms. Neostorytelling sat down beside Addison and placed her arms around him in a tight hug. Addison just let himself be held.

�There now,� Ms. Neostorytelling said as she wiped his tears with a tissue. �Let me tell you a story.�

Addison agreed and continued to lean against Ms. Neostorytelling.

�Once upon a time, there lived a little JubJub. And this JubJub loved to read and eat purplum and cheese sandwiches��

�That�s just like me!� exclaimed Addison.

�Yes, this little JubJub is a lot like you,� Ms. Neostorytelling said smiling down at Addison.

�Well this little JubJub was very shy. So shy that he had a hard time making friends,� Ms. Neostorytelling continued with the story.

Addison, enjoying being held and loved, just sat still listening to the story.

�One day, this little JubJub came to realize that his hiding was making other pets think that he was ignoring them. Even though, that wasn�t what was really happening. You see, this little JubJub wanted to be friends very badly, but he just didn�t know how to make friends when he was so shy,� Ms. Neostorytelling paused here for a moment.

Continuing on, Ms. Neostorytelling said, �So this little JubJub pondered the problem for a short while. He still could not find a solution. That is until one very special day, when this little JubJub was reading a story. And in the story he read the solution to his problem!�

Ms. Neostorytelling stopped for a moment and noticed that Addison was staring at her.

�What did you want to ask me, Addison?� inquired Ms. Neostorytelling.

�Umm�I was wondering if you knew what book it was that he found the answer in. Maybe I can read it!� Addison replied with a hopeful look.

�Just listen to the rest of the story,� Ms. Neostorytelling replied, trying to hide a smile. �This little JubJub read that he had to smile at others and he had to stop hiding when others spoke to him. The little JubJub knew that this would be very hard to do, but he had to try if he wanted friends.�

Ms. Neostorytelling paused at this point.

�What happened to the little JubJub?� questioned Addison.

�Well, I believe we shall find that out at another time,� Ms. Neostorytelling replied with a laugh.

Ms. Neostorytelling excused herself and left Addison to sit under the Maple tree. Addison thought about the story. It was very good and he liked stories that had a Jubub in it. But he wondered what happened to the little JubJub.

Addison gathered his things and went back to his room. He lay down on his bed and continued to think about the story.

�I wonder if I could be like the little JubJub and smile at others,� Addison thought to himself.

Just then, Murray walked into the room. Addison decided to give it a try. He stood up and looked at Murray.

�Ummm, Murray�?� Addison said in a very soft voice. And yes, he did have a smile on his face. A very small shy smile.

�Huh?� grunted Murray as he turned to look at Addison.

�W�wo�would you like to play ball?� Addison asked, fighting the urge to hide behind his feet.

Murray gave a big grin and replied, �Sure! Let�s go!�

Murray grabbed his ball gear and started to leave the room. He turned to see Addison just standing there. Murray went over to Addison and nudged him ahead by the shoulder.

�Let�s go Addison,� Murray said with a smile.

At the playground, Addison discovered several pets coming up to greet him. They were all very friendly and Addison found that shy as he was, he enjoyed playing with the others.

Standing by the Maple tree, Ms. Neostorytelling watched Addison with a smile. For you see, now they knew the ending to the story of the shy little JubJub.

EPILOGUE
Addison did eventually over come his shyness. Though, he still had his shy moments when he hid behind his feet. However, he realized that it�s ok to be shy. But it�s not ok to let shyness stop him from ever making friends or from going places.
Currently, Addison is enjoying his new found friends and playing as much ball as he can. He discovered that not only does he love to read, but he loves to run as well.

The End

Author�s Note: This is a short story of many I have written from my collection titled �The Neopian Pound Chronicles�.
Special thanks to Andy and Alanna�:)
My story has been published in the Neopian Times! Check out Issue 95!