once upon a time, i saw a documentary called “march of the penguins.” i loved it so. and it inspired me to create a story in my never-ending mind. said story has developed through several talks with myself and others. i will try to write it in several series because it’s too cute for one … so here it goes ….
there is my bare-chested daddy standing by the deep blue ocean water and waving to us. he is wearing his favorite bright blue and yellow hawaiian shorts. his jet-black wavy hair, which matches his equally black mustache, slightly waves as the gentle breeze quietly storms through. he is a scientist. the smartest scientist in the world. and the blonde lady donning a modest yellow one-piece swimsuit standing next to him, that’s my my mom. she is a teacher. the smartest teacher in the world. and the little girl playing in the sand wearing the cutest yellow with blue polka-dots two-piece baby bikini. that’s me. my name is ella. i’m four. i think.
I was building a sand castle, or more like a big mountain of sand, when i saw in the corner of my very little right brown eye something small and black waddling around the water. i put my face closer to the thing. it finally opens its eyes. *blink* *blink* oh my god! it’s a pet.
“Daddy! Daddy!” i screamed as i picked up The Pet and threw it up in the air.
Shaken and surprised, my parents came rushing towards me.
“What’s wrong ella?” inquired my loving mother.
“i have a pet. i want to name him pat.” i gushed and showed them the smallest penguin you can ever find. i cradled him in my arms like i did with my baby dolls.
“isn’t he so cute?” i added. pat just looked lovingly into my eyes and my parents. and then mine. then my parents. then mine. *blink* *blink* *blink*
“oh no.” i looked up at my mom. her right hand covered her open mouth. she had a worried look on her face. my dad just stood there with his right arm around her. he pushed back his black rimmed glasses up his nose.
“he can sleep with me. in my room. pleaaaaaase.” i begged.
“well, i am a scientist and you are a teacher. i’m sure we can try to build him a home, right?” my dad replied as he looked at my mom. my dad. he’s my hero. he would do anything for me. even help me keep a pet penguin!!!!
“yay!” i looked at pat who looked slightly confused. but, such confusion quickly turned into happiness when i gave him the biggest hug i can give a small pet penguin.
as we drove home that day from the beach, i knew my life had changed. all of our lives had changed. i turned next to me and saw Pat all buckled up in my old baby seat. i smiled. Pat just stared blankly at me. Then he blinked and flapped his little wings. He seemed happy. I turned to my father and caught his eye in the rearview mirror. he eyes smiled. i smiled. i saw him quietly put his right hand on top of my mother’s left leg. i smiled even more. i looked out my window and saw the houses flashing by as the neighborhood grew increasingly more familiar. we were in our way home.
