This is the inspiration from Cody the Maverick's 'Teardrops on my Iceboard' and it's turned into my own version of it. I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 3: Let Me Be Me

"I just want to talk to you for a minute, son."

Cody walked over to his father's side and asked, "Am I in trouble, papa?"

Bob sighed exasperatedly and said, "No, you're not in trouble. I just want to talk to you, not just as your teacher, but as father and son."

"Okay."

He just couldn't think of all the words to come up with to say to his son about the situation that occured just now. He sighed and asked, "Remember those answers you said today?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Well, I think that's what's the problem. See, everyone seems to see you as kind of.... strange."

"Stran-dge?"

"Yeah, strange."

"Why am I stra-ndge?"

"Oh, man...how do I put this.... Let's just say that....everyone kinda treats you....differently than most penguins do."

"Diffy-want?"

"Yeah, that."

"What is diffy-want?"

Bob felt his mind has gone completely blank. He tried to think of something to describe what different meant to Cody, but he's kinda too nervous to say about it, then he sighed and told him, "Well, you're not the same as everyone else is. Just....not as normal."

"Is diffy-want....bad, papa?"

"Well, no. Different is good. To everyone else, it's not."

Cody sighed softly as his father puts his flippers on his shoulders to comfort him. He told him, "Just because you're different from everyone else, it doesn't mean it makes you a bad person. Sometimes being different is a good thing. Okay?"

"I guess." he said, sadly.

"What I'm trying to make is that you are different, but to me, you're just the same as you've always been. Just because you're small, it doesn't mean you can't get any bigger or taller. You're fine with just the way you are. Do you understand?"

"Maybe." he said, with his head down, sadly.

He puts his flipper on Cody's chin and saw his dad, smiling at him and said, "You know what I think of you?"

"What, papa?"

"A special person."

"I am?"

"Of course you are. You're a special person to me and your mother."

"What about Glen?"

"Your brother thinks you're special. He just doesn't want to show it, but as you grow up, you will represent every penguin just like you and every penguin will one day find you special."

"You really think so?"

"I know so and you will do me and everyone else proud. Even if I don't see you grow up, I can still remind you as the little penguin I've grown to love, even if you are....different. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Kinda."

"Here's what I think will stick with you as you grow up-- if someone tell you you're not like them or if they call you different, just tell youself, 'Cody's me, let me be me.' Don't let anyone tell you, 'Cody's this, Cody's that, Cody's this', say 'Cody's me, let me be me.'"

"Cody's me, let me be me."

Cody continued chanting those words and had a little beat to it. Bob smiled at him and said, "In time, you'll find yourself unique and something special."

Cody smiled and said, "Thanks, papa."

"Don't forget, say 'Cody's me, let me be me.'"

"Yes, papa."

"Great. Tell your mother I'll be home late tonight."

"Where are you going?" he asked innocently.

"To get some fish. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Then, Bob walked away, leaving Cody walking home by himself, chanting, 'Cody's me, let me be me' on the way back home. As soon as he got to the igloo, his mother noticed him coming in. Edna came in and said 'hi' to Cody.

"How was your day?" she asked.

"Good!"

"Great. Where's your father?"

"He said he'll be home late tonight to catch some fish."

"Of course, as always. Your father is completely relentless when it comes to fish."

"What's relentless?" asked Cody.

"I'll tell you that when you get older."

"Guess what I learned from him?"

"What did you learn from your father, besides fish, of course?"

"Cody's me, let me be me!"

"Shh! Not so loud. What does that mean?"

"I don't know. I just like saying it."

"Well, okay then. Just don't say it as loud, okay?"

"Okay."

Two hours had passed by and still no sign of Bob anywhere. Edna was getting completely worried about him, wondering where he could be. She sighed heavily as she went out of the igloo to find where he is. She walked through the snow to find Bob anywhere.

"Where could he be? I know he's out late tonight, but it's growing too longer. Must be getting some more fish, as always." she said.

Little did she know, as she was walking, Cody saw her leaving the igloo through the window and wondered where she was going.

"Where is mama going? I'd better go after her to find out what she's doing." Cody said.

Then, he climbed out of the igloo window to follow his mom to where she's going, which is also the same to find his father to see where he is. They were completely unaware that it could be Bob's last day on earth and also Cody's last day of seeing his father again.

Stay where you are because Bob's last day is coming up. Hope this impress you, Cody the Maverick! Keep a look out or the next chapter! It'll be totally AWESOME!!!