9 . EXPLORING

They stayed at this place for several days, but then everyone started to get restless again. The little one had grown a bit bigger and stronger. He bravely tried to take big steps and then fell over his own feet. Everyone laughed. Even the serious penguin laughed. Suddenly everyone became silent because they had never heard him laugh before. He even rarely smiled.
Life was so good with a little one around.

Still, something had to be done.
They went to the leader and asked what the plan was"The plan?" said the leader, hesitating and looking very questionable.
"We're just going to start off," he said firmly. “Everyone get ready”.
"Where are we actually going," the adolescent asked.
"Well, uh, I think, uh, what if we went north?"
"But where to," the adolescent asked again.
The group became very quiet. Everyone had wondered where they were actually heading, but no one had dared to ask the question.
"Do you have an address or a zip code?" asked the adolescent, "we'll find it."
"We can also stay here," said the young couple. We like it here.
But then again, they were the only ones with a roof over their heads.

"We are going to explore," the bachelors said.
 They were ready for some adventure.                                                                  
"Will you come with us, adolescent," they asked.
"I'd rather stay with the little one," the adolescent said.
"Then I'll come along," said the serious penguin . The bachelors looked at each other.
They had not counted on that. But they couldn't get out of it either. So they set out.

They stayed away for a long time.
The leader and his assistant were whispering about whether to leave the next morning. It was getting colder and they really needed better shelter.

 Meanwhile, the group began to recall the house in the forest. How comfortable it had been and how nice they could swim there. Could they go back there? But no, that was not an option because then they had to go through the desert again. "That is much too hard for the little one," said the widow. And she thought: "and for me too".

 The leader was just about to tell them that they were leaving the next day when there was a deafening noise. The little one started to cry and the others were startled. What was that? They all fled into the young couple's house.

Than they heard familiar voices.  “Hi, it's us. Do not be afraid"
What did they see?

The penguins were on a scooter with a strange lady. They drove an extra round to be cool.Wow, the adolescent was so terribly sorry that he hadn't come. What an adventure they had! And that lady, she was so beautiful!

 When the excitement was over, the leader said, "Welcome madame, let's all sit down. Would you like a cup of tea?" And for the second time, the serious penguin had to give up his teapot.
They all sat down and drank tea. Of course the lady had to see the little one. "What a sweetheart," she said, "what's his name?". They hadn't thought about that. "His name is little one," said the adolescent, and everyone looked a little embarrassed. Would the lady think that is a crazy name? But she said, "what an original name. Nice".
The bachelors did not participate in drinking tea. They sat on the scooter as if it was their property.

 Then the leader said, "now I would like to hear the story"

If you like to read this story from the beginning, click on the dates at the right.
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