Short Story #1: I Am Most Proud of...

    This is a short story I wrote a few months ago with the writing prompt "I Am Most Proud of...". This may be a bit longer than other short stories that I may write about in the future, but I hope you'll enjoy it for the time being!

I Am Most Proud of...

(This is a short story with two points of views.)

I am most proud of myself, for I, Patrick, the flying penguin, have gone on a journeyacross the globe to find someone who is equally as wonderful as I. Mind you, becoming aflying penguin is no small feat, I worked quite hard to become who I am today. 

I am most proud of Patrick for managing to not die. My little brother Patrick has always beenstupid. Once he pretended to be a human when he saw some other humans, but then fell into theircampfire. Even though, as a penguin, he’s never seen fire before, any competent penguin would’veknown to stay away from the hot, red flames. The only way he survived was because the kind humanssaved him. The humans gave him new wings since he lost his, but it appeared that they made his wingsbit bigger than they should be and now he can fly. Don’t believe his nonsense, he just wants attention. 

Don’t believe whatever story my sister, Susie, tells you. I worked hard to earn mymetal wings. I’ve always felt as though someone was missing from my life, someone whowould understand me. So to find them, I set out on a journey. I plan to search the wholeworld inch-by-inch if that is what it takes. For I, Patrick, the great, flying penguin willnever give up!

I worry about Patrick, the other day he woke me up telling me he had a new idea. I hate his ideas.But this, this is by far, the dumbest idea he’s had. He wants to travel the world to find “true love” orsomething like that. I tried to talk him out of it but he is a stubborn penguin. Any sensible penguin wouldknow not to venture out there. The world is no place for a penguin. 

Susie worries too much. I told her about my grand plan just yesterday and she’sgiven me FIVE lectures! Five! I don’t even know what she’s worried about! I just wish shewould trust me for once. I wish she would be PROUD of me. For I, Patrick, the amazingly,great, FLYING penguin has done great things! I am leaving Antarctica right now.

I’ve been looking for Patrick for hours now and I can’t find him. I don’t know where he could be,I hope he didn’t leave already. He wouldn’t leave without telling me, would he? Wait, I think I see himby the shore. Oh no, what is he thinking?

I wouldn’t usually leave without telling my sister, but I’m afraid she’ll try to talk meout of going again. To be honest, I’m not sure I would be able to ignore her warnings again.That is why I’ve been hiding away. But I know that I have to do this. This is one thing Iknow I need. With three great flaps I’m soaring high in the sky with the clouds…

As soon as I see Patrick take off I jump into the ocean, barely having a second to breathe. I swim

and swim, determined to follow him wherever he goes. I can’t lose him to some stupid adventure. 

I’ve been flying for hours. I have no idea where I am or where I’m going, but I know

that whoever it is I need to find will be waiting for me, however long it takes. I know that

the world is large but I shall persist! For I, Patrick the wonderfully, amazingly, great

flying penguin, can never be stopped!

I don’t know how long it has been, but it feels like I’ve been swimming for days. I’m too tired to

open my eyes, all I’m following is the faint sound of Patrick’s flapping and panting from where he is

three flippers above the ocean. I don’t think Patrick knows I’m here but I doubt anyone can notice much

of anything having traveled so long. I just hope he’s going to turn back sometime soon. 

I see land! Finally! I’ve flown all across the world to finally find land! I know this is

where I need to be! I slowly land and try to be as graceful as possible but I land flat on

my face. I hope no one saw that, but in my defense, I’ve just flown for a really long time.

We’ve finally reached land! I can’t believe it! Wait, where’s Patrick going? Does he not see the

giant human machinery? Why is he running?

I have to see what is going on! What is this place? It is so amazing (like me)! I can’t

wait to— AHH! What was that? That thing didn’t even stop for me! What is wrong with it?

I might as well fly because apparently no one here has any manners whatsoever.

I can’t believe Patrick. He almost ran straight into that human box on four circles! Well at least he

has sense enough to fly. Wait– how do I follow him now? As I start to pace thinking about what I shall

do, I spot another penguin!

I’ve been flying for a while. Each time I land, some human shoos me away or tries to

catch me. As I fly away from the man with a broom, I see him take a thin rectangular

object out from his leg (gross), put it up to his ear, and talk into it. What is with humans

and their rectangles? Everybody has one! Is that what I’m missing? A rectangle from my

leg? It can’t be! I barely have any legs and that rectangle can’t talk with me! SMACK! I

crash, forgetting I have to look forward while flying.

“My name is Arther,” the penguin says in a strange accent. “Are you a penguin?”

“Yeah, I’m a penguin,” I say, still in shock. “My name is Susie, are you a penguin too?”

“Yes, but you don’t look like any penguin I’ve seen,” he inquires. “Are you not from around here?”

“I–um, I’m from Antarctica. What about you? What is this place?”

“Argentina. Why are you here?”

“I need to find my brother! He’s flown away and I can’t get to him!” I say, gears turning in my

head, so we’re not too far away, just four thousand miles. Wait, that’s a lot. 

“What do you mean "flown"? Can Antarctica penguins fly?”

“It doesn’t matter! Just tell me how to get to him!” Why is he asking so many questions?

“I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on!” He snapped, “I’m just trying to help!”

“Okay,” I say, catching my breath. “It all started like this…”

I look up from the ground and I see two golden arches on a beautiful red pedestal.

Just then, the smell hits me. I turn my head and see a building just as colorful and I walk

towards it. Inside I see many people. All in an orderly line. I walk towards the line but

wait. Lines are for losers! I'm a VIP (Very Important Penguin)! So I jump onto the table

and politely take the brown box from the women’s hands, the perfect box for a rectangle. 

I told Arthur about Patrick’s journey and how he was convinced that he had to travel the world.

“Why don’t you let him?” Arthur asked.

“What?” I’m dumbfounded. Why wouldn’t I want to save my brother from this dangerous world?

“I said, ‘Why don’t you let him?’” Arthur said, rolling his eyes.  “It sounds like he’s really

confident in himself and he should be allowed to make his own decisions.” 

“You don’t understand!” I shriek. “He pulls stunts like this all the time and it never goes well! Now

he’s in a world where he doesn’t know anything about anything!”

“Is that because of his ‘ideas’ or because you’re always trying to stop him?”

“What?” I say defensively, “I just need to find my brother! If you’re not going to help then I’m

going to find someone else!” I waddle away, but not three steps later–

“Wait!”

“Hey! That bird stole my chicken nuggets! I paid for that!” A woman screeched. Cleary

unaware of my high status. 

Greedy arms reach out trying to steal my prized possession. Geez, just wait foryour turn! I fly onto the roof of the beautiful building and open the box. This must be it!Everything I’ve worked for is in this box! 

“Wait! Fine, I’ll help you.” Arthur says catching up to me. “But you have to promise not to runaway. The humans will know you’re not from here and they’ll take you back to Antarctica!”

“Okay, I promise,” I say with an eye roll. “Where do we go?”

“I can bring you to the park, there aren't as many cars there so it’s safer there. You should be ableto loop back into town. It will be a long walk but we should get there before dark. After that, you’re onyour own. I’m not allowed to go into town.” 

“Okay,” I say, taking all the information in. “Wait, why can’t you go into town?” 

“I’m forbidden by the Penguin Council,” Arthur replied, sheepishly. “I caused some problems afew weeks back.” He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t push him. He turned and started walking, I followed.

I drop the box onto the roof to get a better look. At last! I’ve done it! Take thatSusie! I looked down to examine the box, it was brown with some pop of colors. It was alittle greasy on the bottom and as I opened the box, I felt the radiating warmth followedby the most soothing smell. In the box is… WHAT IS THIS? There are about twentybrown rocks in this box! What am I supposed to do with this? 

“Look at that bird!” I hear a squeaky voice say.

“I think it’s a penguin,” said another voice, equally as squeaky as the first.

“Is it eating chicken nuggets?” I look down from the top of the roof to see threemini-humans, each with a little plastic toy in their hands. 

What do they mean by eat? Also, what is a chicken nugget? Are these brown rockschicken nuggets? Am I supposed to eat them? I cautiously pick one up with my beak,the flavor coating my tongue, and I swallow.

“Is this it?” I say, my legs aching.

“Yup, this is it,” says Arthur, staring at the barred metal fence. 

“How do I get over it?” I say, now looking at Arthur.

“You jump on my shoulders and we jump at the same time.”

“You sure it’ll work?” I say, staring at the pointy tops.

“Nope,” he says, to my dismay. “But it’s worth a shot.”

“Okay,” I say, but before I jumped onto Arthur’s shoulders. “Thank you for helping me, Icouldn’t have done it without you, and sorry about getting mad at you earlier.”

“No worries,” said Arthur, looking back at the fence. “You should probably get moving.”

“Alright, here goes nothing,” I get on Arthurs shoulders. “Jump in three, two, one!” I jumped ashigh as I could, Arthur jumping as well giving me a boost. I’m airborne. Is this what Patrick feels likewhen he’s flying? Because it amaz– SPLAT! I fell on my face. But, I was on the other side! 

“Thanks again Arthur!” I shout before running towards town.

Not only the texture, but the flavor too, was phenomenal. The outside was slightlycrunchy and the inside was soft and chewy, but also sort of rubbery. The flavor is likegetting a warm hug. I must bring this back to Antarctica for my sister to try! This isamazingly great! Just like I, Patrick, the super awesome, wonderfully, amazingly, greatflying penguin, who has finally accomplished my goal!

I’ve made it back into town. The walk wasn’t nearly as long as the walk to the park, but it tooklong enough for the sun to fully set. I see humans with their children, walking down the streets. A truckplaying music with a painting of an upside down triangle with two colorful circles on top, giving off afaintly sweet smell. It would’ve been sort of peaceful if there wasn’t the lump in my throat and aquestion I wasn’t ready to say out loud. What do I do now? 

The journey back feels longer than the journey to. The box of chicken nuggets isnow half-full. I ate five on the roof and five before I began flying. I’m saving the restfor home and for Susie. I’m clinging onto the box with as much strength as I could spare(which is a lot since I’m so strong). It has been a while since I’ve slept so my usualflawless sense of direction is slightly impaired. I will not give up or lose hope. For I,Patrick, the beautiful, super awesome, wonderfully, amazingly, great, flying penguin, shallnot give up so close to the end!

What do I do now? I’ve spent all day just to get into town, what is to say Patrick’s still here?What if he left Argentina already? Or what if he went back home? Oh dear, what if something happenedto him? Just then, two hands wrapped around my body, pinning my wings down. The hands picked meup and turned me to face him. I couldn’t shout for help, his hands were just tight enough so that I couldbarely breathe, but not move, not shriek, not even squirm. Even if I could’ve moved, I’m paralyzed infear, too scared to have even tried. 

“I found the foreign penguin,” he says, turning his head to the man behind him. 

“That’s not the one,” he replies, frowning.

“How would you know? This penguin isn’t native.”

“The one I saw had metal wings, it was also flying.” Metal wings? Flying? That must be Patrick!This man must know where Patrick is!

“Are you serious?” The first man chuckled. “I’ll send this penguin on the ferry that’s leaving ina few days.”

“I swear I’m telling the truth!” The second person said, his face turning red. Is that a thinghumans do?

“Yeah, whatever,” the first man says as he puts me in a cage and locks me in. I’m trapped.

I see white! I’m home! I tried to speed up, but I’m not sure I went any faster.The wind seems to be against me, but I have powered through! Soon, the sliver of ice andsnow I see, gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Until I am finally close enough to make mydescent. I'm right on the shore of which I left just a few hours ago. Or has it been days?Or maybe even weeks? No, that doesn’t sound right. I’ll just ask Susie when I show hermy chicken nuggets! Oh, I can’t wait to see her face when I see her! I finally did it!

I’ve been stuck in this stupid cage inside a dark room for about three days. I know because everymorning a guy drops metal rectangles full of what he said were sardines. Then, at night, he comes backand does a health check. But today he gave me the check-up as soon as I finished my food then pickedmy cage up. He took me outside and the sun was so bright. He continued to walk until he brought me

inside another building that’s on the ocean. I didn’t know there were houses on the water! That’scool. He then put me in another dark room, but this time there was a window. Then he left the room. 

The house started moving. I don’t know what's happening but back in Antarctica, if the worldstarts moving then that means you should run. I, however, was trapped. Trapped in the same cage fordays, and I was going to be trapped for an unknown amount of time. I hate being trapped. But now, allI can do is wait.

I finally found the penguins! I look for Susie’s group of friends because that’swhere she usually is. I have a feeling her friends don’t really like me, but I think it’sworth a try. 

I finally found them! I’m so excited! I run up to them and place my box at my feetto talk. 

“Wait, where’s Susie?” I wondered out loud, everyone’s heads turning to me.

“We thought she was with you?” Someone finally asked after moments of silence.

“What? No! I was by myself the whole time!”

“Well, she disappeared the same day you did, so we thought you guys weretogether.  But, it’s been almost a month since you two disappeared.”

“A month?” I say, starting to panic. “That can’t be.”

“Well, it is,” said a different penguin this time. “You really don’t know where sheis?"

“No. No, no, no, no, no.” I say, looking down at my box. 

“That’s okay,” the first penguin says, coming up to me. “I’m sure she’ll turn up soon,just like you did.”

I’ve been laying on the floor, thinking. I’ve had a lot of time to think. I thought about Patrick, Ithought about Antarctica, I thought about Argentina, I thought about the world, how big it is, I thoughtabout Arthur, and what he said. I think about that a lot. I think I understand it now, I think it’s true. Likethat one time Arthur fell in the fire. Maybe if I didn’t yell at him to get away, he wouldn’t have startledand fell. Maybe that’s like this time. What if he’s already made it home and I’m out here, in thisswimming house. 

Now that I think about it, why aren’t we moving? I get up to look out the window, but the waymy cage is placed, all I see is a sliver of light. BEEP! The sound came from a box in the corner. Then avoice followed, not as raw as normal human voices, but still distinctly human. 

“Attention passengers,” the voice boomed. “We will reach land shortly, this is not our finaldestination. We are just dropping off a wild animal. Please head back to your quarters so the animal isnot frightened. Thank you.”

Are they talking about me? If they are, where are they taking me? Just then, a human walks inthe room. I can’t tell if they’re a man or woman as they’re covered from head to toe in thick, removablefur. I know because the human took the hand fur off to place a long, thin fur over my cage. Then picksthe cage up and walks. 

I went on a walk, just to the shore where I left. Did Susie really follow me? Isthat why she isn’t here? Why couldn’t she have just waited? Then there would be a happyending. Wait, what is that? Is it a human house? Why is it in Antarctica? I have to take acloser look. I slide up a little closer. It doesn’t look like a house, but definitely human. Infact, I might just be imagining this, but is that human-not-a-house swimming? Wait, isthat a penguin coming out of the swimming, human-not-a-house?

I hear the sound of many voices. Some loud, some quiet, some young and squeaky, some old andraspy. Then, I feel the breeze. I haven’t felt such a nice, cold, breeze in so long, I’ve forgotten the joy ofit. Just a few moments later, my cage is set down onto the ground. The fur pulled off the cage. Then, thehuman opens the door to my cage. I see snow. So. Much. Snow. I look around to see where I am. It’s theshore, the place where me and Patrick left just a bit ago! I need to see if Patrick is still here. I collapseonto my stomach, sliding across the snow, I trust that Patrick has made it. Is that too much to hope for?Then, I see him.

“Susie!” I shout, still sliding on my stomach. “I’ve missed you so much!

“Patrick!” she shouts back, sliding just in front of me, then standing up. “I’ve missedyou too!”

“You won’t believe the adventure I just had!” I say standing up on my two feet.

“I think I’ve had enough adventure for life.” she says. “Tell me your story first!”

“Well, most importantly, we need to get back home! I left the chicken nuggetsthere!”

I listen to Patrick’s story, though I’m sure he embellished some of it, I love the way he tells a story.I just realized how much I can actually trust him. He’s done so much on his own and I was caught almostas soon as I was in town. I am most proud of Patrick. 

I can’t believe just how much I’ve done. It really is my happy ending. I’ve finallydone it! Susie told me how proud of me she is! For I, Patrick, the most modest, beautiful,super awesome, wonderfully, amazingly, great, flying penguin, has accomplished my life’smission! I am most proud of myself!