This chapter's more cheerful and ends on a high note!


Birth of Gloria

Baby Mumble awoke as a bundle of nerves. He was starving! He crawled out of his dad's pouch and pulled his dad's left leg. He needed to eat this moment!

"Pa, I'm hungry!" howled the young, blue-eyed chick. Memphis awoke with a start.

"Wait? What?" he stuttered out.

"I need to eat!" called Mumble.

"Oh! That's right! I have some curd for you to eat," recalled Memphis.

Curd is a liquid substance, consisting of protein and lipid, which is produced by a gland in the throat of the father penguin. It is a special reserve of food if the mothers do not return early. Yes, it must amaze you that the dad would save this reserve for his child and not eat it himself, even after fasting for more than two months. It shows you just how much a loving father would sacrifice for his child.


After breakfast, Memphis and Mumble made their way to the ice caves. They both hoped that they wouldn't find a mourning penguin residing in the caves. But when they arrived, their hopes were dashed. Maurice was still there. And he had given up on his egg. It was now lying behind a small pile of snow, unloved and unwanted.

"Oh… Maurice… Mumble, you might want to hop off, but don't stray this time. Just stay here," Memphis instructed, his voice quieting to a whisper. Mumble obeyed and, sadly gazing at the unhatched egg, he hopped off.

"What a waste of life. What a waste of… a friend," reflected Mumble. The mood was somber and melancholic. Maurice and Memphis waddled outside. "I have to try something… something," Mumble decided, his brain whirring into action, and his heart beating ever so strongly. By now, his "Happy Feet" had become linked to his mind and heart. If he was in a state of deep thought and contemplation, his feet tapped with a slow, steady, rhythm.

"Tap-tappity-tappity-tap" went Mumble's feet.

Tap-tappity-tap-tap-tap-tap-tappity-tap.

"Tap-tap-tap" went the egg.

"Huh?" Mumble glanced with disbelief at the egg. Had it been tapping? He tapped his feet again, hoping that it was true – that it really was alive.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tappity-tap went his feet.

Tap-tap-tap went the egg – again!

"I have to tell Sir Maurice about this!" Mumble thought excitedly. And just like that, he was away, as quick as the thought that had just settled itself into his mind.


"Just let it all out Maurice – it's okay," Memphis soothed, as Maurice sobbed into his shoulder. "Why did this have to happen to him?" Memphis asked the Heavens. "Just… why?"

Just then, Mumble came scurrying out of the cave. He had something big to tell.

"Your… egg… sir… Maurice…" panted Mumble breathlessly, "I… heard… something! It's… alive!"

"C-Can it be true?" Maurice asked. Now it was his turn to look to the Heavens. "Please 'Guin, let it be true!"

And with that, Maurice barged off to see his egg. Memphis looked at Mumble.

"Boy, are you sure it's… it's… really alive?" he questioned.

"Of course it is! I just did my "Happy Feet"… and then voila! It's starting to hatch! Come on, I'll show you what I did, Pa!"

Mumble briskly waddled back inside, intending to waste no time.

"Well, I guess this is a spectacular miracle to behold," Memphis said to himself. But before he went in, he looked to the sky and said, "Almighty Great 'Guin, I thank thee for blessing Emperor-Land with your grace, and by your will, may we persevere through good, and through trying times. Amen."


"So, chap, what did you do to wake up my egg?" Maurice inquired to Mumble. Memphis had made his way back in, and now all three penguins were watching Maurice's egg with keen interest and renewed hope.

"I did this, sir," replied Mumble. He started doing his "Happy Feet" with his feet. But then he remembered. Suddenly casting his eyes downwards, he spoke slowly and quietly.

"But I don't think my Pa will like it, Mr Maurice," Mumble murmured. But Memphis was willing for his son to do his jig, if it meant saving Maurice's chick.

"Just this once, Mumble, for Maurice. And more importantly, for his child," Memphis encouraged. Mumble, now relieved, inhaled deeply and shifted his focus to the mission that lay before him.

"Okay, now follow me," he said to the egg.

"Tap-tap" went Mumble's feet.

Tap-tap-tap went the egg in reply.

Tap-tap-tap went the happy feet.

Tap-tap-tap-tap rattled the egg.

"Look!" gasped Maurice, for his egg was quivering.

"I can hear it!" Memphis proclaimed joyously.

Tap-tap-tap-tappity-tap-tap-tap-tap. Mumble concentrated hard and orchestrated his tapping feet for the climax.

Tap tap – CRACK!

A piece of eggshell was dislodged and a tiny, yet visible crack appeared. The three penguins cheered and rejoiced. Mumble quickly came to aid the newborn. He broke off more pieces of eggshell with his beak, until finally a tiny chick plopped out. Its eyes were shut tight, as it was still adjusting to this whole new world.

"It's a girl!" Memphis declared. But Mumble didn't hear his father. He was gazing at the miracle before him. Yesterday, the egg was dead, but now it was alive, and now it was standing before him as this little bundle of cuteness. He felt protective of it. He never wanted any harm to come to it. And it was quite tiny – it was the smallest Emperor Penguin chick that he had seen in his life. Mind anyone, not just Mumble's life, but Maurice's and Memphis' too.

"So? What's her name?" Memphis asked Maurice.

"Her name will be Gloria. Michelle picked that special name for our special baby," Maurice replied, looking affectionately at his newborn daughter.

"Come here, Gloria," he called, opening his pouch for her. Baby Gloria followed and found herself warm within seconds of entering. She cooed and chirped in delight.

But Mumble was confused.

"Why isn't she talking? Doesn't she know how to talk?"

Memphis and Maurice chuckled.

"Some hatchlings are different, son," Memphis pointed out, "You were born earlier, you have blue eyes, and you broke out of the egg using your feet. Since Gloria is the last to hatch, she will be the last to learn how to talk. Everyone is different."

"Okay, Pa," said Mumble.

"We should probably leave them to bond right now, Mumble," Memphis whispered. He beckoned for Mumble to hop on his feet. Mumble did so, and they made their way outside.

"See you around, Maurice."

"Goodbye, Memphis. And thank you."


Mumble was overcome with happiness. Not only had he saved Gloria's life, but he had watched her hatch, and he had made friends with her.

"Looks like there is at least someone to appreciate me around here," Mumble thought to himself.

But he also felt a stronger feeling. He felt like he should take it upon himself to take care of Baby Gloria. He wanted to be near her always, to protect her always. He wanted to hold her near and dear to his heart. He wanted to love her always.

Mumble made a promise.

"I will always be there for you, Gloria. If you need me, I'll be there. I love you, Gloria. Forevermore."

Promise now done, Mumble turned his mind back on the lifetime of fun he and this newborn chick would have together.

What never occurred to Mumble was that once a baby learned how to talk…
…it would never stop.