Hi there ^^ I thought I should explain this story a bit. It's a challenge I've taken up, and the idea is basically write a drabble, a hundred-word story, every day for hundred days :) These are the first ten, and the rest will also be published in series of ten, so expect nine more chapters to come. The drabbles are in no way connected to each other and are not in chronological order. If you see a number between [ ] next to the drabble's title, it means you can scroll down for more information about the particular drabble :)
Enjoy!
~.~.~.~.~.-Th. 16.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
1. SLEEP
Private climbed up the ladder of the HQ outside.
"Skipper, what're you doing in 'ere?" he asked upon seeing the leader out too.
"I can't sleep," replied Skipper. "And you either, huh?"
Private nodded. "Are you watching the stars?"
Skipper's turn to nod.
"May I join you?" asked Private.
"Sure," Skipper replied, and the young penguin sat next to the leader on one of the penguins 'deck chairs'. A silence fell. A comfortable, trusting silence. For a long while the two penguins sat there without a word said.
"Aren't the stars magnificent?" asked Skipper, but got no reply. He turned, just to see a sleeping Private. The leader smiled.
"Let's get you to bed".
~.~.~.~.~.-Fr. 17.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
2. BRUSH
Rico was surprisingly patient and careful. But only in certain things. That carefulness and patience was witnessed by his team when it was time to brush his dollie's hair. Rico always took his time when running that yellow brush through the doll's blond hair. There was nothing in the world he concentrated more on. Yes, his team, his food, and explosives, were important to him. And he loved the team's missions. But none was like his dollie. And somewhere deep inside, Rico knew how lucky he was to have a team who understood that. Rico smiled gently, while once again brushing his dollie's hair.
~.~.~.~.~.-Sa. 18.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
3. OF A SHATTERED DREAM [1]
"Private, what is that?" asked Skipper as he saw young Private holding a curvy piece of shiny metal in his flippers.
"It's a trumpet, Skipper," Private replied.
"Okay... But where did you get that?" the penguin leader asked with suspicion.
"I saw it in a music shop while on a mission, and I went to get it last night," confessed Private.
"As an ornament it was the perfect size for me. I've always wanted to learn to play".
"I'm sorry, Private," said Kowalski, who had been listening to the other two penguins' conversation.
"But our beaks aren't capable of producing the 'buzzing' sound that's needed to play" he explained.
~.~.~.~.~.- Su. 19.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
4. THE CREDO
The alarm went off at six, as per usual, and all of the penguins got out of their beds, all except one.
"Private, why aren't you getting up?" Skipper asked, slightly worried.
"I am, Skipper, just.. hang on for a moment," the young penguin replied, sounding like he'd be in pain.
"Are you all right soldier?" Skipper asked.
"Quite.. so, Skipper," Private replied.
"Private," the leader said demandingly as he felt his soldier wasn't telling the truth.
"Okay. I'm not feeling well at all," Private confessed. "But go on without me".
"No," Skipper said firmly.
"You remember the penguin credo; never swim alone. We're having a day off".
~.~.~.~.~.-Mo. 20.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
5. FEELING [2]
He gently nuzzled the other penguin's cheek. It was his way of communicating, letting the other one know that he was to be trusted. Surprisingly emotional from a penguin who was sensitive for 'mushy' stuff. But Rico wasn't emotionless, not at all. He knew how to love, how to care. He knew how to smile and he knew how to cry. Some things made him angry, some made him scared. And Rico, if anyone, knew how difficult it sometimes was to talk about feelings, trust someone with one's emotions. So Rico knew exactly what he wanted to ask from the other penguin.
"What's wrong?"
~.~.~.~.~.-Tu. 21.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
6. DEAL 'EM
Kowalski tapped the clipboard with his pencil, deep in thought. He was still, but his mind was working full speed. And suddenly, he was back to doodling again. He was so focused on his new experiment, that he didn't notice that the others had been calling his name for a while already.
"Kowalski! Are you listening at all?" Skipper finally yelled.
The scientist was slightly startled, but turned calmly towards Skipper anyway.
"I'm sorry, sir," Kowalski said. "I got carried away".
"I noticed that... We were asking if you'd play cards with us," Skipper said.
Kowalski sighed, put down his clipboard and joined the others.
~.~.~.~.~.-We. 22.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
7. LET'S GET LOUD
"That noise's driving me insane! Kowalski, what's the time?" Skipper yelled over the blasting music.
"It's 2300 hours, sir," Kowalski yelled back. "And the lemurs show no signs of stopping their partying!" he cried out.
"That's it, two hours of this torture is enough!" Skipper stated. "Men, move out! Commence operation: sleep time!"
…And not long before another operation was successful and King Julien mad at the penguins again.
"Great job men!" Skipper stated. "Kowalski, commence lockdown and we shall get some sleep!"
Kowalski made a salute and with a few buttons pushed the lockdown was completed.
"Perfect! Sleep well, soldiers. We'll resume training first thing tomorrow".
~.~.~.~.~.-Th. 23.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
8. SURPRISE, SURPRISE [3]
Rico sat in the corner and blasted music from his newly regurgitated mp3-player so loudly that it didn't matter that he had headphones.
But surprisingly, Skipper wasn't irritated. Instead, he stared at Rico with his head tilted.
"Kowalski, come here for a second," he called for his soldier.
"Yes?" the scientist asked upon arriving.
"Do you hear Rico's music?"
"Yes?" Kowalski replied, signaling the leader to go on.
"Kowalski, describe that music to me. What do you hear?"
"A lot of violins. Sounds like a classical symphony orchestra," said Kowalski.
"Exactly, classical! And we're talking about Rico here!" Skipper replied. "That doesn't seem.. "Rico-odd" to you?"
~.~.~.~.~.-Fr. 24.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
9. NOTES
Kowalski ran around the HQ like a headless chicken, mumbling things to himself and seeming perhaps a bit lost.
"Kowalski, what's going on?" asked Private, who'd been watching Kowalski's doings.
"Oh, Private, you've got to help me!" the scientist cried out. "I can't find my notes anywhere!"
"..Your notes?"
"Yes! All of the information about my latest invention is in those notes! I need to find them!" Kowalski was nearing panic.
"Okay, calm down," Private replied and thought a while. "Have you asked Rico?"
"Rico? Really?" Kowalski raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? He's right behind you," replied Private.
Kowalski turned. "Hello Rico, have you seen my notes?"
~.~.~.~.~.-Sa. 25.8.2012-~.~.~.~.~.
10. THE RAIN
Private knew very well that if he wouldn't sleep soon, he'd be tired in the morning. But he had no intention of sleeping. Instead, he lay awake in his bed and listened to the rain pouring down outside. Oh how soothing it was, to just lie still and hear raindrops making their rhythm against the roof. Private smiled a little. As the rain then calmed down, Private noticed how peaceful everything really was. Only things the young one heard were the sounds of his sleeping team mates' breathing. Private loved that. It meant everything was okay, all was good in his world.
And then the rain started again.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
[1] I play a brass instrument myself, that's where the idea for the drabble came from :)
[2] This is a pairing between Rico and... I'm not telling you who ;) And like I've said before, this pairing happens in this drabble only.
[3] That term "Rico-odd" refers to something that is odd for Rico... could we say something... normal?
