The Black Pawkeet sat nestled in its spot betwixt the docks of the Scurvy Island Marina. Garin very much preferred the sea rather than land, but he liked coming home to Scurvy Island because the marina provided him and his crew with facilities to take showers and do laundry. Laundry was done in the showers because using the washing machines cost money.
Garin was taking a shower and doing his laundry when Jacques came into the room with the mail. He had returned from the post office. He stood outside the stall and started to tell Garin about the mail. From the tone in his voice, it was obvious that he was nervous about something even though he was only telling Garin about a sale on Pawkeet vitamins.
"Jacques, I'm taking a shower," Garin said. "Can't this wait?"
"No," Jacques replied. "You have something else. An urgent message from the Neopian DMV."
"DMV? I don't own a motor vehicle." Garin turned the water off and opened the curtain so it would be more easily to have a conversation with Jacques. His magnificent naked body was glistening from the wetness.
"It's about the Black Pawkeet. You have to go today."
Garin looked around. He had almost finished washing his laundry before Jacques came in. The only article of clothing that was still dry was a pair of pants. He would have to go to the DMV without a shirt.
He put his pants on, took the letter, and went to the DMV.
Garin arrived at the DMV. He took a number and sat down. There was a child named Caillou, not to be confused with the Caillou from the hit TV show on PBS Kids, though he was equally if not more annoying. He was whining to his mother about how he couldn't watch Teen Techoes Go because the battery in his tablet was dead. His mother had no sympathy for him. She told him that it's his tablet, and it's his responsibility to make sure it's charged. She also hated that show. Garin knew that this would be hell. What he didn't know was that this was only the clam before the storm. Caillou whined for over an hour.
While Garin was sitting, he read the paper. It said that the tag on his ship had expired. That was bullshit. The Black Pawkeet did not have a licence plate.
After three hours, they finally called Garin's number. He went to the desk to which he was summoned and sat down in the chair. He took the paper out of the envelope and tried to explain his situation. The young lady at the desk, however, would not hear it.
"Sir, you cannot be here without a shirt," She said. "If you want some service, then you need to go home, put on a shirt, and come back."
"No," Garin said. "Please, just let me explain! It says-"
"Go home, put on a shirt, and come back."
"My ship isn't registered. I just-"
"Go home, put on a shirt, and come back!"
"Okay," Garin said, calmly. "I need to ask a quick question. If I do that, will I be able to just come back to this desk, or will I have to wait in line again?"
"You'll have to take another number." She said. "I can't keep people waiting while you go home."
"But I've been in line for three hours." Garin said. "I'll have to wait three hours again, and you close in two hours. Can't you just help me with my tag? This is all a misunderstanding. I don't even have a tag!"
"No." the lady replied.
Garin angrily knocked over a potted plant and left.