Author's Note: So today 16 years ago, Shark Tale went out into theatres. So I took it upon myself to give my favorite character from the movie, Lenny, a birthday date. So October 1st, 2004 is Lenny's birthday! That's today! He's turning 16! Yay! Okay so here is a story about Lenny where he really wants to tell his parents that he's a vegetarian, but doesn't want them to abandon him. This takes place three years before the movie happens. Enjoy the story! :)

Lenny's Story: This is Me

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I awoke to my alarm clock ringing. I put the pillow over my head not wanting to get up just yet. It was only 7:30.

" Lenny! Turn your stupid alarm clock off before I come over there and smash you and your alarm clock into a million pieces!" Frankie shouted at me after he threw his pillow at my head. He could be a real jerk sometimes. Did he not know what today was? Not that it matters to anybody except me and my Mother.

" Alright! Alright!" I yelled back. I got out of bed and turned off the alarm clock before Frankie started throwing heavier things at me. Like his fins. I wasn't planning on waking up so early today. I wanted to sleep in, but once I was awake I couldn't go back to sleep until my body wanted to. Oh well. I guess I forgot to turn off my alarm clock last night before I crashed. I was really tired last night.

I went back over to my bed to fix my pillow and blanket. It felt so soft. And fluffy. I opened the door to our bathroom and closed it behind me. I brushed my teeth which wasn't as sharp as the other sharks. I wish they were. I also used my mouthwash to make my mouth feel clean. I was the only one who used the mouthwash. Or brushed their teeth for that matter.

I left the bathroom and our bedroom quietly, so as not to disturb Frankie who was out cold. I opened our door and it squeaked. Curse you stupid door! Frankie didn't stir. I continued to open the door fully so I could slid through and close it as quickly and quietly as possible. I tried to squeeze through when I heard the door bash into the dresser behind the door. Ugh! Come on! If I wake him up, he'll kill me! Literally. I was in the hallway and I immediately closed the door and swam to breakfast table as fast as my tail could get me.

I swam slower once I got closer to the dining room. I swam up to the double doors and said, " Good Morning, Tonio and Giuseppe!"

" Good Mornin' Lenny!" Tonio answered back.

" Hello Lenny! Good Mornin' to you too! Now, Where are you headed and where we did you come from?" Giuseppe inquired.

" Well considering the only place I could've came from is my bedroom I would go with that. And I'm headed to the dining room." I smiled back at them.

" Alright, go ahead." Tonio laughed at my joke.

They both pushed open the doors so I could go through to the dining room. I don't see the point in having to be telling all the guards where we're going and where we were just at. It's a bit annoying. Honestly, being the son of mob boss is so exhausting sometimes. We're treated like royalty. I just have to suck it up though. I guess it's for our safety. Although why for me? I'm not usually trouble unless it comes to food. Frankie is the one Pop needs to worry about. But that's not the problem because Mister Frankie over there is perfect.

" Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!" My Mother shouted in face and gave me a big hug and broke my train of thought.

" Mom . . .Can't. . .Breathe…" I barely got out a gasp before she let me free to feel my arms and tail again.

" Sorry, honey. I'm just excited! Today you're turning sixteen! Maybe we could finally through a party this year! Or . . . " My Mom started babbling about a party but I stopped her.

" Mom. No parties." I grabbed her by the shoulders. I was not one to be in the dark, but having parties for my birthday just didn't seem like a good idea. I had no friends. Nobody would attend it. Only my Mom would be there. Pop would be " busy" working all day and Frankie would be ignoring me so he wouldn't say mean things to me on my birthday. Like " Hide in your room all day because we don't want you here."

I've always been ashamed of myself for being such a disgrace, such a disappointment to my family and to shark-kind. Once, I remembered Frankie had told me when I was 9 to run away because nobody would love as I am. I almost believed him, but I pulled myself together and continued to ignore his insults. To this day, I still have too. I know I could let him break me down and pound me into a dust pile of insults and lies. I would just drown them out.

I just knew that there had to be a place where there were other sharks like me. Vegetarians sharks to be exact. It would be a glorious and beautiful place.

" So what do you want for breakfast?" Mom questioned me and broke my train of thought again.

" I'm not very hungry, Mom." I answered. I always answered this question the exact same way every time. They always thought I would just go out to hunt by myself, but really I just go out to the kelp fields to eat. I've been doing this since I was five. I just got bored of eating baby food. It started to taste awful and eventually I would throw it up. Although I know my dad is suspicious of me because I never eat in front of anybody.

" Are you sure honey? If you want to hunt i'll go with you. I don't want you to be by yourself on your birthday." Mom replied upset.

" Mom, you know I like to hunt by myself." I sighed. She argued with me all the time. It might be even more so now because it's my birthday.

" Okay. Just. Just be careful okay." Mom sighed and let me go.

" Okay, Mom." I gave her a hug and headed out. That was easier then I thought.

I was outside now swimming towards the kelp fields to go and pick a few pieces out and eat them quickly and head back so I wouldn't get caught.

I got back home without getting caught and found everyone in the kitchen. Mom was shouting and Pop and Frankie were in there. Why wasn't I included in this? I never included in anything just because I'm different. I put my ears up against the door to listen.

" How could you pretend to work on his birthday? What is your problem with him? He's never done anything to you!" Mom shouted.

" I can't stand to be around him if he's not gonna' act like one of us Kathleen! He's not cold-blooded killer! God knows where he goes to "hunt"!" Pop shot back. Mom faced dropped in shock.

" I can't believe that you can't stand to be around your own son on his birthday." Mom cried out. Frankie just stood there shocked at what Pop had just said. I pushed the doors open and tried not to get upset.

" I-I heard all of it, if that's what your thinking. Pop I'm sorry that I can't be as perfect as you and Frankie and Mom. And if you really want to know what I do when I go to hunt. I go to the kelp fields to eat kelp. I'm a vegetarian. I don't like fish. This is me. And you can't change that." I bursted out into tears and swam out of the kitchen and down to my room to go to sleep , so this horrible day would end.

Author's Note: So, what did you think? I hoped you liked this short story! Please read and review! :) 3