„Here are your math tests back. You all did well, except you Matt can use a little practice." Ms. Gold handed the ice-blocks to each penguin. When she got to the last one, she beamed proudly. "Well done, Kowalski. You´ve got 25\30. Higher than anyone else here." The tall penguin smiled politely, but then frowned at his block. He would´ve overheard the bell that signaled the end of school, if some kids hadn´t accidently bumped into his desk in their hurry to get outside.
Kowalski slowly walked through the school yard where the remaining chicks waited for their parents to either pick them up or for their friends to come out of the huge ice cave they used as school. The penguin´s blue eyes were still focused at his test. Five mistakes. Five stupid mistakes. "Hey, Ko." His friend Rico joined him. "Hi Rico." "What´s wrong?" "Nothing…" Rico followed his friend´s frustrated gaze to the block. "Hey, cheer up! Nobody ever go this high!" Kowalski didn´t respond. The other walked with him for a few moments till he grinned and playfully punched the smart penguin. "Don´t let five lousy mistakes get you down." Rico then slid away with four other friends who were heading to toward a huge ice-ramp where they practiced some tricks on planks used like skate-boards. Kowalski watched him slide away, then picked up his pace, sighing. His father hated it when he comes home late.
The trouble is, Kowalski´s dad hated mistakes. More than anything, even tardiness. Right now, he was glaring at his son´s test. The young penguin fidgeted nervously, knowing what the harsh look meant. "Kowalski…" His father started slowly. "Yes sir?" The elder showed him the ice-block with the five red marks. "What´s this?" Kowalski lowered his eyes, not answering. A slap quickly brought his gaze back. "What are these marks?" "Mistakes." His father slapped him again. "Mistakes. You made five mistakes." "….." Another slap. "Yes sir. But the test was so hard, I couldn´t-" The third hit. "Of course you couldn´t!" The other penguin hissed. "Did you think I wanted a failure as a son?" Kowalski quickly shook his head to avoid being smacked again, but it came anyway. "That´s all you are! A failure! Go to your room. I don´t want to see you till tomorrow!" The last final slap, but it hurt more than ever. It let Kowalski know just how much of a difference five can make. The penguin quickly obeyed, closing the door quietly. He stood there for second, feeling tears well up. Finally he moved and dazedly stumbled over to where his bed was. Outside, he heard some kids playing and laughing, others yelling in encouragement or fright to some daredevils, Rico amongst them. The youngling climbed into his snow bunk. He wished he could be with the others. Happy, carefree, like Rico. He still felt the burning pain of the five slaps his father gave him. Soon, is eyes grew heavy. While falling asleep, Kowalski vowed to never make a mistake again. Never.
A\N: I might just continue this….depends on several things…R&R! ^,^
