Over the fence ch. 6
by
Mastermindhunter
Gwyneth was scramming out the door, putting her purse around her shoulder. She ran past the large plate of glass, seperating the streets of the big apple from the tiny shop. She was apparantly on thin ice with her second job, whatever it may be. And just like that, she was gone into the crowd of eight point three million people. Rico suddenly felt embarrased by his actions. He had distracted her with conversation, and might have caused her to get fired. Great! Now she was sure to hate him now! He put his right hand over his eyes, and clenched his jaw, making the tendants in his neck show. The boys watched Rico, as he felt like an idiot. He plopped down on the both's corner. He knew that he wouldn't get the chance to see her, until tomorrow. Well at least she was willing to see them once again. They each finished up their shakes, and left to go find something else to do. It seemed a bit pointless to Rico, though. What was the point in going anywhere, if she wasn't there, to spend time with him?
Rico was alot quieter that evening. Still he wasn't going to stop having a good time in the human word. They hopped back on their bikes, and started to ride around Manhattan for a little while, before returning them back to the rental shack. No doubt Rico was excited once again. He was bicycling harder than he thought he could. He left the boys in the dust once again. About two hours later, the dark clouds were over head. It started to violently rain. They decided to go to the hotel when it started to downpour. Rico didn't want to. The feeling of water through his hair felt nice cool and refreshing, but even he was going to head home. When he turned a corner, there was the bike rental shack. He curved inwards to send his bike back. The stubby guy, grabbed the bike from the much taller Rico. The boys weren't far behind. The shop from the hotel was i differnt story. Bike rentals were very far from the Sheraton hotel. They hailed a taxi, and who else was it to pick them up, but Gwyneth's father? He had the same dark green scally cap on, as yesterday.
"Boys!" Gwyneth's father smiled, and laughed. They all smiled back, and jumped in one by one. "Let me guess, the Sheraton hotel?" Skipper smiled, and nodded. He pulled out, and started his drive. "Hey, here's the deal. You guys are really awsome, so I'm gunna give you all one on the house."
"Wow, that's really nice of you Mr. Gwyneth's father."
"Ehh . . . just call me Bill. So, I heard that you guys came over to the sweet cream factory, not once, but twice." He said, scrathing his goatee. "What made you boys come back?"
"It must be the ice cream. Your daughter sure can make some good cream." Skipper commented. Bill smiled, looking in the mirror.
"I guess. When she first saw you, she said she thought that you boys were with the secret service, you know, with the tuxes and all. She also said that you boys all have peular taste in ice cream flavors. Really, coffee flavored?" Skipper raised his eyebrows, in an oh-well kind of shrug. "That's good though, very distinguished." They kept driving through the flooded streets. "So which one of you is Rico?"
Rico raised his hand slightly. Bill smiled warmly in the mirror. "She says your really unique. She said you were really cool, doing that whole quarter trick. She likes clever little tricks like that, ever since she was little. Is it true what she said, that you can't talk?" Rico looked down, and nodded. Bill looked away from the mirror, smiled warmer than before. "Don't worry, she doesn't mind. She actually says your pretty cool." Rico smiled excitedly. Private smirked a little, knowing what it meant.
"Well, here we are. You guys take care of yourselves. Oh, and if you ever want to talk to Gwyneth aside from her job, call this number. She breaks her back, working at this place." He gave Rico a piece of paper that had a number, and address. He grinned, and tucked it in his jacket pocket. They left the cab, and ran up to their rooms, and plopped down on the beds, worn out from the bike rides. Rico ran up to the loft, and smiled at the town once again. Every sparkle of the lights, every building seemed unique. The fact that Gwyneth said he was cool, made his heart flutter. He could hardly belueve it. He happily reached under the bed to grab his picture, but couldn't feel it. He reached further under, and laid up, gasping a loud enough gasp of horror. He looked under the bedskirt, and it was gone. He scurried the floor, loking under the loft's bedside table. Wheredid his picture go?
"I found it earlier." Private was standing at the top of the staircase, glancing guiltily at his picture. Private looked down at it, then at him. "You could have told us. I told you I wouldn't tell anyone." Rico stared at him holding his picture. This could not be happening! Private wasn't supposed to know. Nobody was. He felt his face turning red. The fact that he knew he was blushing, made his face even hotter. He walked over to him, and swiped the picture away, inspecting the inside to se if he drew anything else. Skipper and Kowalski were walking up to the loft staring at Rico with an understanding smile. He was staring at them, his mouth slightly open, his eyebrows in an worried, embarrased look.
He walked over to his bed, and laid down on it. His face hardened to a look of anger, and broken trust. He pointed down to the lower floor, with a grunt. That apparently meant to leave him alone. Skipper felt bad, and walked down to the first floor, with his eyes in his hands, staring down. Kowalski whispered a "yep." and started down the stairs, their long legs made little bumping sounds against the carpeted stairs. Rico's mouth was trembling. Private stayed up there.
"Listen Rico," Rico buried his face in the pillow, and tucked the picture in his pocket. His hands were straight at his sides. "I know your upset, but Skipper understands, and so does Kowalski. They want you to be happy." Rico looked up from his pillow, his eyes a little confused, and hopeful at the same time. "We're going to let you be with Gwyneth. We'll give you some dating tips." He sat up from his slump, with a twinkle in his eye, and gave him a big Rico bear hug. Private smiled, and grunted with the hug squishing him a little. "You're welcome." He laughed. Rico blushed, and held his paper close.
"So does it bother you, that she has one leg?" Rico shook his head with an "Uh-uh" Private had to admit it did surprise him, but he didn't mind.
That night, they showed Rico some ways to ask Gwyneth out.
"Alright." Skipper said. "Pretend I'm Gwyneth, and I'm about to be asked out by you. What is your approach?" Rico looked up at the cieling, rubbing his chin. He then had an idea. He hacked out a grenade, and threw it towards them. Skipper yelled, and hid behind Rico. Rico picked him up bridal style, and smiled from ear to ear. Skipper grimaced, and crossed his arms. Rico looked confused.
"You can't scare her Rico. She's not a penguin like us. She's a very fragile human girl." Private said, taking the key from Rico. "You have to be subtle. Now I know subtle isn't your thing, but we'll help." Private put the key back in the grenade, and tossed it aside. Rico frowned dropping Skipper on the floor. Skipper landed with an "Oomph!" Private stared at Skipper on the floor. "Oh, and you can't drop her either."
Next they thought of what to do with Gwyneth. Central Park seemed like fun. They knew that it would be real nice relaxing place, and it seemed like she would enjoy some fresh air. That's what they decided on first of all. Next they wrote down the Brooklyn Bridge, perhaps she would enjoy some architecture. Kowalski recommended the Guggenheim meuseum. That was the best one on the list for sure. If girls liked anything, it was art. Private recommended a carriage ride around. It was something Gwyneth would probably like. Which type of girl wouldn't want to feel like a princess? Skipper had an idea for a place called top of the rock. It was a large observant tower to take people up to view the city. Rico aspecially liked that choice.
He had finally laid out his plans. Rico figured that he would go to her second job, and ask for the date. By the time they had put on the final touches, they were all ready for bed. Rico had assumed that when the boys found out, Skipper would have him out on his ears. He was quite surprisd by Skippers enthusiasm of Rico's date. He didn't even think Skipper liked her. Then again, it always took a little time for Skipper to get used to people. When he was changing into his pajamas, he just couldn't let the excitement wear off. He'd been wild about it since he changed. He sat up on the bed, looking out the loft window. What an awesome world, the human lifestyle. They might not have been able to talk to other animals, but it seemed like humans were each their own species. Some were uptight, others warm, and nice. Some completely basic, and others the most complex examples of human beings. It was like they were each unique in their own way.
"Rico?" Rico looked up to see Kowalski. Kowalski was looking at Rico with a nervous look. It didn't bother him much. Rico moved over a little to let Kowalski sit down. Kowalski sat at the foot of the bed. "I need to ask you . . . do you know how Gwyneth lost her leg?" Rico didn't know, and actually didn't care, and he wasn't going to ask her. He shook his head. Kowalski looked down, and sighed. "Well that's why I was going to tell you this in Private. I'm not the perfect romantic, but I just wanted to tell you, don't ask her. It will make her feel pressure, and that's something someone as busy and stressed as her doesn't need." Rico thumbs up'd Kowalski, and gave him a thank you hug. Kowalski tappd his temple, which must have meant not to forget. He wouldn't. How could he anyway? He had plenty of trouble talking as a penguin. If anything, he had even worse trouble talking as a human.