Ch.7
"Skippah! You're back!" Private shouted happily, then he realized Skipper didn't look happy, but he looked disappointed. "He's not coming back, is he Skippah?"
"No, no, no." Skipper said. "He's coming said that he was taking a walk. I'll go back in a few hours."
"Oh, OK." Private said, the sees Skipper climbing into bed. "Uh, are you going to bed already, sir?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Oh. Do you want me and Kowalski to do anything for you?
"No, not really. Just keep it down, OK?"
"OK, Skippah." Private said, then turned his head to the TV and seees that his show is on. "Ooh! My Show!" Private happily hops to the TV set to watch his show.
After his show was over, Private looks at the clock. It was only an hour later. It didn't feel like an hour to him, but it didn't really matter to him. The thing that matters to him is that he has nothing to now. He looks at Skipper and sees that he's in a deep sleep. Then he walks inside Kowalski's lab to see Kowalski wants to do anything with him.
"Hey Kowalski! Whatcha doing?" Private asked.
"I have no idea..."
"Oh. Well, do you want to do swim laps with me?"
"Sorry, Private. I'm too busy right now. prehaps later?"
"Yeah, sure."
Private walks out of the lab and hears something on the TV. He looks over and sees that it was an advertisement about explosions. It's Rico's favorite commercial.
"Rico, Look!" Private said, and did a little hop from excitement. "It's that commercial you love!"
Private looks around, and doesn't see Rico. He only sees Skipper sleeping on the top bunk. "Oh, yeah..." He muttered to himself. He thought to himself that he should go to Marlene's to see if Rico returned. The only thing he worried about going is that Skipper wouldn't know. He didn't want to give his leader a scare if he woke not know where Private was. He could tell Kowalski, but he didn't want to bother him. Private decided to over at Marlene's, but he leaves a note for Skipper. Just incase.
When Private got to Marlene's, he saw her pacing around like she was waiting for someone. Private had a feeling he knew who she was waiting for.
"Hi, Private! What's up?" Marlene asked.
"Not much. How about yourself?"
"Oh, I'm just getting ready for bed." She said, then takes a quick glance at the enterance.
"This early?" Private asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"Yeah, It's a little tiring waiting for Rico." She laughs a little. "I think I'm acting like a worried mother. I'm sure he'll be back soon."
"So, He's not back yet?"
Marlene lets out a sigh. "No. But like I said, He'll be back soon. Right?"
"I hope so. I miss him."
"I know you do."
There is a minute or two of silence, then Marlene spoke up.
"Ok, I've got an idea. If I'm still up when Rico comes back, I'll come get you. Then you two can stay up all night and do whatever. Not a very detailed plan, but whaddya think? I'm sure Skipper will be OK with it."
"Yeah! Sounds like a plan to me."
Marlene walks Private out of her home, then watches him belly-slide to the penguin habitat. Right after she saw Private disapperared through the entrance, something caught her eye. She looks at her pond and sees the flowers. She picks them, then looks around. There was no one around, and she knows that Private didn't put them there. Marlene decided not to worry about it, and walks back inside.
