Chapter 28: Pre-Parental Arrival Jitters
The next morning, Isobel traveled to Atlantis to ask her father about having a Thanksgiving feast there for the penguins' and Julien's family. She had promised this to Skipper a while ago. However, as she passed through the city square, everything seemed emptier. Gloomy, even. She found her older friend Naomi and asked her why this was so.
"It is because you left, child." Naomi told her. "The city is no longer as exciting without you and Jack to terrorize it."
Isobel laughed lightly at her joke. "Surely no one misses that."
Naomi smiled. "But it is a good sadness. We like to watch our princess grow up and become her own person."
Isobel nodded. "I am bringing people here soon; Julien's family."
"Good." Naomi said in approval. She leaned in towards Isobel. "I like him. And he is a king, no?"
"Yes." Isobel nodded. "I wish I could speak more, but I must see my father."
"Farewell, Isobel." Naomi called as she walked away.
:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:
The old king sighed and rubbed his temples in mock stress at his daughter's request.
"Really? You would rather be dealing with this than ruling the Eastern Kingdom?"
She knew he was joking, and she laughed. "It's not too much trouble, is it?"
"I survived raising you and Jack." The king smiled. "So relatively, no."
"Thank you." Isobel smiled as well. "Ma'a salama."
And with that goodbye, she left back to the zoo. There was still much to do. As she walked back, she sighed in relief. There were only three days left before everyone left. What could happen until then?
:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:
"Can you believe it?" Private asked excitedly. "They're coming here tomorrow!"
It was now late at night, and the penguins were busy being stressed out in their HQ.
"Hold your enthusiasm there, boy." Skipper warned him. "The rest of us aren't exactly keen on the idea."
"Uh-uh." Rico shook his head.
"What if they aren't impressed by what we have?" Kowalski wondered aloud. "I can't let them down!"
Skipper clapped him on the back. "Easy, Kowalski. We've accomplished many things⦠Haven't we?"
"I know mum and dad will be sooo happy!" Private twirled around. "They really want to see you, Skippa."
"Oh-ho, great." Skipper rolled his eyes when Private was not looking.
Kowalski waddled around a bit. "Wait." He paused and gasped dramatically. "I forgot my parents' names!"
Skipper slapped him. "For the love of MacArthur! It's Elton and Clarissa!"
"Sorry, Skipper." Kowalski rubbed his cheek. "It's just pre-parental arrival jitters."
"Stop shaking like that." Skipper furrowed his brow. "You'll be immobilized with Charley horse. Just consult Manfredi and Johnson about that."
"Maybe I should get some shut eye." Kowalski decided. He walked over to his bunk and got in.
"All of us should." Skipper yawned. "Rico, kill the lights. Without actually killing them, please!"
"Aww." Rico lowered his sling shot disappointedly.
"Sweet dreams, everyone." Private said sleepily.
Tomorrow was a big day, but soon everyone except for Skipper drifted off. Skipper tossed and turned for quite a while before finally going into a fitful sleep. He knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
