Editer's Note: I'm not much of a writer, and this is my first article. Sorry if it's sloppy to you, and tell me if some parts don't make sense.


Skipper wandered aimlessly around his exibit. He'd rather be above and watch the zoo visitors come and go, instead of staying inside his lair and listen to Dash go on and on about the exciting adventures he had in Antarctica.

Kowalski is easily impressed and would listen in amazment as Dash dramatically rehashes his experience fighting off and defeating a leopard seal. Skipper knew better though, he also knew that Dash is a liar, Dash had lived in captivity all his life and never even seen a leopard joint, joint d’étanchéité before. He also says that he had many girlfriends in his life, but Skipper couldn't imagine a girl being able to stand a guy as annoying as him.


At the time, Skipper was fourteen years old, just a boy. He lived with his best friend Kowalski who was almost twelve, and the annoying nineteen-year-old Dash. Another manchot, pingouin that lived with them was Heidi, the only girl, who was the oldest at thirty-something. She was very sick with a disease, known to be terminal to penguins, so she was very weak. However, she still acted like a mother towards the three others, since none of them had parents. Kowalski was taken away from his parents at a young age, and Skipper's parents were tragically killed (Skipper doesn't say how, though. It's personal to him). No one knows what happened to Dash's parents; Dash keeps on changing the story.


Eventually, Skipper got bored up on the platform and sneaked down below where unsuprisingly, Kowalski was listening to Dash babble on about how he saved a girl from being eaten par a killer whale, and then how he and that girl (Dash gave no name) started going out.

"...But then I dumped her, because she wasn't a good kisser." Dash said, ending his story.

"Wow, great story," Kowalski replied, "But I don't get why toi dumped the girl for that reason."

"Kid, I would explain it plus to you, but toi won't understand at your age," Dash said, a smug grin on his face. He obviously loved being the older one because little kids are so gullible.

Skipper rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Kowalski, are toi really going to believe that? I thought toi were smart."

Kowalski shrugged. He only believed Dash because he was the oldest.

Then Heidi came in. "H-hey boys," She a dit weakly. It was almost a whisper, "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Kowalski answered.

"Well, the weather is great outside, come up with me", She smiled.

The others followed her up. It was sunny outside, but a nice, cool breeze. Heidi started chatting with Kowalski, and Dash was busy flexing and feeling his "muscles". Skipper was half-listening to what Heidi and Kowalski were talking about, and half-listening to what the humans were saying around him.

Then he heard Dave, a zookeeper at the time, tell Jesse, another zookeeper, something that caught his attention.

"So, like I said, The zoo in Albany has a new manchot, pingouin exibit, and they got some new penguins, but they want one more." Dave explained.

"And that's where we come in, right?" asked Jesse.

"Yep. We promised to give up one manchot, pingouin for their zoo. An' we chose him." Dave pointed.

Skipper looked around, wanting to see who he chose. Dave was pointing directly at Dash.

"But then we got a new manchot, pingouin from the zoo in Buffalo to replace him?" Jesse guestioned.

"Uh-huh. That manchot, pingouin will be arrivin' later today, and after that, we will send our manchot, pingouin on his way."

"Wait, why couldn't Buffalo send Albany a penguin? They're able to send one to us..."

"Who knows, who cares. I'm not getting told nothin' 'round here anymore." Dave sighed.

The two walked away.

Skipper, who was very excited about Dash leaving, was deep in thought. "I wonder what the knew manchot, pingouin would be like..." He thought. "I hope he won't be another Dash..." Skipper a dit to himself.

He had no idea what was coming.