A long time ago something rather wonderful happened…..
From the moment she hatched it was clear there was something
different about Penny.
When all the other baby penguins ‘honked’, ‘gaaked’ and
‘gawed’ at their parents Penny could only let out a tiny, tiny, really tiny ……..
‘squeeeek!’
At first the other penguins didn’t really notice but as she began
to grow it became clear that Penny was different because all she could say was
a tiny, tiny, really tiny …….. ‘squeeeek!’
None of the other penguins could understand what she was
saying and it wasn’t long before some began to make fun of her. When she waddled
by they would all let out her tiny, tiny, tiny, really tiny …….. ‘squeeeek!’.
Penny began to feel very sad.
Penny’s mummy and daddy didn’t like to see her being teased
and did their best to protect her but they could see how unhappy she was.
And Penny really was unhappy as she wondered why she was so
different. Soon she didn’t want be with all the other penguins.
Penny would wander off to find a place to hide and there try
her very best to ‘honk, ‘gaak’ or ‘gaw’. But it didn’t matter how hard she
tried all she could say was a tiny, tiny, really tiny …….. ‘squeeeek!’ Penny would
sit on the ice and cry, her tears freezing as they fell to ground.
Her mother and father talked with the elders of the colony
but not one could think of what to do. Penny just got sadder and sadder.
One day when Penny was sitting alone she could hear all the
young penguins getting more and more excited and even though she didn’t really
want to be teased again Penny went over to where they were.
As she got nearer she could hear the young penguins shouting
to the sky about all the presents they wanted for Christmas. Penny wanted to
join in and shout what she really, really wanted but all she could say was a
tiny, tiny, really tiny …….. ‘squeeeek!’
‘How will Father Christmas know what I want,’ thought Penny.
Penny’s Mummy and Daddy looked at their little girl and wished with all their
hearts that she could speak.
That night …. (so do I continue?)
