Chapter 1
The Scar
People have scars.
In all sorts of unexpected places.
Like secret road maps of their personal histories.
Diagrams of all old wounds.
Most of our wounds heal, leaving nothing behind but a scar.
But some of them don't.
Some wounds we carry with us everywhere.
Though the cuts are long gone, the pain still lingers.
It's a slow day at the Central Park Zoo, so all the animals are relaxing even the penguins, Skipper and Kowalski are playing cards, Rico is painting, Private is watching TV. Marlene enters the penguin's HQ to see what her Penguins neighbors are up to.
"Hey guys"
"Hi Marlene" Private greets the Otter then went back to watching the TV, Marlene walks up to Skipper and Kowalski
"So what brings you here Marlene?" Skipper asks while he looks at his cards
"Well I wanted to pay you guy a visit"
"Is it still that slow outside?" Kowalski asks then looks to the Otter
"Yeah even the Lemurs are just sitting back and relaxing"
"It must be a slow day if the Lemurs aren't dancing" Kowalski says a bit shocked
"Want to play?" Skipper asks, giving Marlene some cards.
After about half an hour Rico shouts "Taadddaaaa"
Everyone gets up to see Rico's painting.
"It's lovely Rico" Private cheers clapping his flipper together. It's a painting of the whole team plus Marlene
"Good job Rico, but is my head really that flat?" Skipper asks as he rubs the top of his head
"Well it looks like you really have captured all of our features"
"Yes, Kowalski's right, my white paw, Skippers flat head"
"Hey!"
"Kowalski's height, Privates cuteness, your Mohawk and scar" Marlene turns to face Rico
"How did you even get that Scar anyway?" Skipper, Kowalski and Private look shocked at the question. But Rico just looks upset, as if he was about to cry.
Rico turns back to his painting without a word, to Marlene, and starts a new painting, Marlene turns around to the other penguins. There's two types of facial expressions on the three penguins two 'I can't believe you just asked' that faces and one very angry face. The belongs to Kowalski, out of all the penguins you know you have done something wrong, when Kowalski shows his feelings.
Marlene just looked at the floor
"I am going to go back to my habitat see you guy later" Marlene rushes out of the penguins HQ to her habitat.
Private starts to watch TV again, while both Skipper and Kowalski look to each other then to Rico. Skipper looks at Kowalski, who was still looking at Rico, Skipper places a flipper on Kowalski's shoulder and nods. Kowalski nods back then walks up to the ladder with one last look at Rico, Kowalski leaves the HQ.
Kowalski makes his way to the Otter habitat "Marlene?" no answer so Kowalski tries the cave "Marlene?"
"Oh come in Kowalski"
"I need to ummmm" Kowalski tries to find the right words, he's never been that good with emotional stuff.
"I'm sorry"
"Sorry for what Marlene?"
"You know asking Rico that question. I knew I shouldn't of, it was obviously going to be a sensitive question for him to answer. Then I saw your face, then I knew I asked the wrong thing"
"Sorry for looking at you like that Marlene. I didn't t mean to it's just..."
Kowalski stops and looks at the floor
"It's what Kowalski?"
"When anyone asks Rico about his scar it makes me remember how he got it"
"Sorry if I brought up bad memories for you" Kowalski looks at Marlene, Marlene smiles but Kowalski does not return it
"It was my fault" he looks back at the floor
"What was your fault?" Marlene asks confused
"The scar"
"Don't be silly Kowalski how was it your fault?"
"It just was" The penguin looks very hurt with himself for some reason.
"You know a trouble shared is a trouble halved" Kowalski looks at Marlene and giggles.
"Trust you Marlene to use that old trick on me"
"Well it is worth a shot also it is true you know"
"Yes I know I am the scientist here"
"Then why can't that brain of your see that bottling up your feelings aren't good for you?"
"I just don't like showing them, it's nothing to do with my brain".
"Well I think it is time to show them"
"Showing people your emotions shows them your weakness"
"Kowalski look around you! your are not in the HQ with your team you're in my habitat. I will not judge you or think you are in anyway weak, just let the walls down. Please I can see it in your eyes, you're hurting yourself over this scar thing with Rico. Why are you letting it bother you so much?"
If Marlene was not going to get an answer out of him being nice then it was time to get mean.
"What do you mean by scar thing Rico? he's scarred for life because of me. Why is it bothering me so much? really, Marlene, really? I thought of all the animals in the zoo you would be the first one to know, why it's bothering me so much"
"Then why tell me why!" Marlene shouts a little bit
"Because I hurt my...I hurt my..."
"You hurt your?"
Marlene knew what he was trying to say she just wants at least one of the penguins to finally say it. None of them ever say it to each other or anyone else.
"I hurt my little brother, my first ever little brother, and I hurt him there are you happy now?" Kowalski starts to cry Marlene walks over to Kowalski and holds him
"Kowalski you did not hurt Rico, it is not your fault"
"But it was, if only I did as I was told, then Rico would be fine with no scar. I should of listened to Skipper"
Kowalski calms himself down and wipes away his tears, there was silence between the otter and penguin.
"You know" Marlene starts. Kowalski looks up at her
"I have known you penguins for so many years, and I have never heard one of you say to each other or anyone else that you are brothers, this was the first time. I mean come on who are you trying to fool? a blind man can see you four are clearly related" Kowalski giggles. Marlene continues her speech "You're too much alike and look alike".
Kowalski looks at Marlene
"We don't look alike"
"Well then let me list some features that you share shall I? you and Private have the same shaped head, as do Skipper and Rico have the same shape head, it's just that Rico's is not as flat as Skipper's" Kowalski smiles "Rico is tall like you and Skipper and Private are small, all of you have the same patterns with the black and white parts of your body also the same colour of eyes the same colour feet and beaks".
"Ok I get it " Kowalski laughs
"Then why do you all hide the fact that you are brothers? it's clear to see" Kowalski stares at Marlene
"Well I think in Skippers head if we just tell anyone that we are related, then somehow his enemies will find out and probably hurt us"
"Yeah Skipper can be a bit overprotective" Marlene chuckles
Kowalski looks down at his feet, Marlene just stands next to him looking at the floor. She really wants to know why Kowalski blames himself for Rico's scar and right know was one of those 'It's now or never moments'
"So why do you blame yourself for Rico's scar?" Marlene asks not taking her eyes off the floor
"Because it's my fault" Kowalski answers looking at the Otter, Kowalski sighs
"You really want to know don't you?" Marlene did not answer but Kowalski knows it was a yes
"Fine" Marlene looks up at the Penguin
"You may want to take a seat it will take a while" Kowalski says to Marlene then pats the space right next to him. Marlene sis next to Kowalski then the Penguin starts to tell his story.