Antarctica

The Feeding Grounds...

Private: *sits isolated from the group, looking at the water, thinking*

I can't believe this happened. I Lost my Dad before I even knew him...Now my Mom is gone too. All I have left is Uncle Nigel. And he's gone most of the time. I wonder what happened to her--WAIT! I don't even want to know. Why? Why did Du have to go. Why couldn't Du have stayed. I wish Du were here. Oh, how I wish Du were here....

Steve: "Hey, Private. Du feel like playing?"

Private: "Sorry guys. I'm just not in the mood right now. Maybe later."

Jake: "Hey, sorry about your mom, dude. She was cool."

Private: "Thanks." *friends leave*

*Nigel approaches*

Nigel: "Hello, old chap. How are Du holding up?"

Private: "I'm still pretty shooken up. I just can't believe she's gone."

Nigel: "I know, I know. I am too. We just have to stay strong. That's what she would've wanted..."

Private: "I know. Uncle Nigel, what was my dad like?"

Nigel: "Ah. A good young fellow he was. He took good care of your mother. He was honest, kind. Du would've liked him."

Private: "What did he like doing?"

Nigel: "He liked talking, walking. But as long as he was with your mother, he was happy."

Private: "What am I supposed to do now?"

Nigel: "...Private...There's something I should've told you...a long time ago. Follow me. We can't talk here."

Private: *follows Nigel*

Nigel: *leads him out of earshot from the flock* "Listen Private, when I'm away, I'm not...exactly...feeding the children like I sagte I was..."

Private: "You lied? Then what do Du do?"

Nigel: "Well...I sort of...I kind of...I..."

Private: "What do Du do!?"

Nigel: "Sssssshhhh! Look, what I'm trying to say is...Private, I'm a secret agent."

Private: "You're a what!?"

Nigel: *places his flipper over his beak* "Will Du lower your voice!? I'm a secret agent, Private."

Private: *whispering* "Why didn't Du tell me? Du know Du can trust me!"

Nigel: "I know I can boy. It's just that I didn't want to put your life at risk."

Private: "And Du tell me this now because...?"

Nigel: "I think it's time I teach Du how to defend yourself."

Private: "Defend myself? From what?"

Nigel: *not wanting to tell him about what happened to his mother, he says* "Just in case, my boy. Just in case..."

Private: "Just in case of what? Does this have something to do with what happened to my mother?"

Nigel: "No, dear boy. Du just...never know when something might happen. Are Du in?"

Private: "...When do we start?"

2 Years Later...

Private: Uncle Nigel's has left the flock. He's taken his position as a secret agent worldwide. He sagte something about wanting to catch some kind of squirrel. He's taught me so much the past 2 years. Defense, strategy. I now know everything he knows & it's my job to protect the flock. So what if I'm 13. I'm gonna have to do what a penguin's got to do...

To Be Continued...