�Aw,� shoot!� Agent_Webb griped.
�What�s wrong, Clay,� Agent_London asked, looking across the room at him over her newspaper.
The ixi spun his chair around and sighed. �I can�t find a petpet that I like,� he said, shrugging in embarrassment.
�What kind do you want?� Agent_Standish drawled, looking up from his work.
Clay shrugged. �I want an aquatic one, but those are� they�re expensive and the Agency doesn�t have that much funding right now,� he said. Turning back to his computer, he added, �We�re only just getting started, after all.�
Agent_London set her paper aside and approached the frustrated ixi. �If you really want an aquatic petpet, talk to the Director. Maybe she�ll alocate the funding for you.�
�You think?� Agent_Webb asked dubiously.
�Never hurts to ask,� the shoyru replied, shrugging and heading back to her desk.
Clay nodded firmly. �I�ll ask her after lunch,� he declared.
�What is for lunch?� Agent_Standish asked. The aisha suddenly realized that he was rather hungry.
�Omelette,� Agent_London replied.
�Again?� Ezra whined. �We have omelette everyday!�
Clay shrugged. �Agency is still low on funding and omelettes are free. It�s either them or jelly.�
�Where do we get the jellies?� Agent_London asked curiously.
Agent_Standish grinned. �Why from the giant jelly, of course,� he replied impishly.
�The giant jelly?� the shoyru echoed.
�On Jelly World,� Clay explained.
Agent_London scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. �Jelly World doesn�t exist,� she replied dutifully.
Clay scowled. Setting a hoof on her shoulder gently, he said, �It really does, Max. It�s just that the location is classified.�
�Like Grundo�s gym,� Ezra replied, nodding. �Let�s go get lunch. I�m really hungry.�
�Grundo�s gym?� Max mumbled, as she followed her partners out of the office to find the giant omelette.
**
As he�d vowed, Agent_Webb headed into the director�s office right after lunch. The young ixi peered into the large office timidly and cleared his throat.
The director looked up and smiled warmly. �Hi, Clayton,� she said softly.
�Hello,� Clayton replied. Looking down at his feet, he decided to get right to the point. �I � I decided that I want a petpet, ma�am,� he stated firmly. �I�d take care of it and I�d let Agent_Standish and Agent_London play with it too, if they wanted.�
�What kind of petpet did you have in mind, Agent_Webb,� the director asked gently. The young ixi rarely asked for any special attention, so she knew how much the pet meant to him.
Agent_Webb blushed and replied, �I � I want an aquatic petpet. Like a � like a ghostkerfish or a baby blu� but those are too expensive. I � I did some price checking and scados seem to be the best value.�
�Well,� the Director replied evenly. �Out of the petpets that the Agency can afford to fund, which one do you like best?�
The ixi smiled and shrugged. �I � I like the bowlas best, ma�am,� he replied shyly.
�Well, then,� the Director replied. �Let�s see if we can�t get you a bowla.�
�Really?�
�Really,� the Director stated, smiling warmly. �Now you get back to work, okay?�
�Yes, ma�am,� Agent_Webb replied. He walked sedately out of the office and quietly closed the door. Then he pumped his hoof and leapt half-way down the hall in his excitement. �I�m going to get a bowla!� he whispered excitedly. Still grinning to himself, he scampered back to the office he shared with Agent_Standish and Agent_London.
**
�So how�d it go?� Agent_London asked the ixi as soon as he entered the office.
Clay beamed at her and replied, �I�m going to get a bowla!�
�Those are so cute!� Agent_London said excitedly.
�I�ll share it with you,� he replied honestly.
�Thanks, Clayton,� Max replied. �That�s nice of you.�
�I want a whinny,� Ezra sighed. �But there isn�t much chance of obtaining one of those. Meridell petpets are unspeakably rare.�
�Yeah,� Clayton agreed. �I�ll share my bowla with you,� he offered.
Ezra smiled and nodded his thanks; then the three agents got back to work.
**
A few hours later, the Director came into the office where Agent_Webb and his partners were quietly working. �Clayton,� she called softly.
The young ixi looked up from his computer and bounded over to her. He could see that she was holding a small bundle in her arms. Had she found a bowla that the Agency could afford on its austerity budget? �Yes, ma�am,� he said softly.
She smiled warmly and handed the bundle over to him. �Here you go, Clayton. Remember to share with Agent_Standish and Agent_London until they get their own petpets.�
�I � I will,� he stammered, excitedly unwrapping the bundle. �Hello!� he said to the little blue bowla in his arms. The bowla smiled at him.
Clayton looked up at the Director and smiled. �It smiled at me,� he reported. Looking back down at his pet, he said, �You are such a sweet little bowla!� The ixi chuckled at the bowla wagged it�s tail at him. �I think I�ll call you Sarah,� he stated.
�Bloop,� the bowla said.
Clayton blinked. He had no idea bowlas made noise. �Is Sarah a good name?�
�Bloop,� the bowla repeated.
Clayton giggled. �Sarah it is, then,� he said. The bowla wiggled it�s tail again and nestled into his arms. Looking up at the Director, he said, �Thank you.�
�You�re welcome, Agent_Webb,� the Director replied, patting him on the head. �Get back to work now, okay.�
�Yes, ma�am,� the ixi replied. He bounded back to his desk and set the bowla down near the bowl he�d gotten for it.
�It matches your fur,� Agent_Standish pointed out softly.
�Yeah,� Clay smiled. �Yours too, but I don�t really care about that. I just love my bowla.� Clay giggled softly as the bowla wiggled its tail.
�It would seem,� Ezra quipped. �That Sarah loves you, too.�
Sarah the bowla wiggled her tail and said, �Bloop!�
The End