PART ONE: HEAR MY PRAYER

At the time Marlene left the zoo veterinary station, it was only about 0845 in the morning, but the only place she wanted to go was back to bed. Although she had gotten up at 0615 to get ready to go with Skipper, she just wanted the day to be over; in fact, she wished that the day had never happened in the first place.

Once she got back to her habitat, Marlene did in fact climb back into her bed. She was so shaken up by what had happened in the park that she desperately needed someone to tell her that everything would be OK, but unfortunately for her the friend that she needed the most was the same one that she had hurt.

Since Skipper couldn't be there, Marlene decided that she needed to talk to an old friend that, while she had never met the man before, had never led her wrong. She had known this man for most of her life, so she folded her paws to contact him.

"Dear Lord, I come before you as – well, I don't even know how to describe myself at this point," Marlene began. "But my actions today have hurt someone I really care about, someone who has always helped me when I needed it, someone who has never laid a flipper on me in bad taste. It's true that I was not in my right mind when I pushed Skipper off the top of the obelisk, but I don't really believe in insanity defenses – this I have to carry with me for the rest of my life. But the worst part of all is not how I feel; the worst part is what happened to Skipper. If there's anyone who needs your help now, no one is more deserving than Skipper. I don't mean to sound biased, but truly Skipper is the best friend that I have ever known here on Earth. Please, if you can, don't let him be paralyzed. This I pray from my heart and in your name, amen."

Unbeknownst to Marlene, just as she was finishing her prayer, Skipper, when the other penguins had stepped out of the room for a moment, was about to start one. Still not able to move much of anything, Skipper was unable to fold his flippers or bow his head, but he was able to shut his eyes as he initiated his prayer.

"Dear God, it's me, Skipper," he began to pray. "I know that I am but a lowly recruit and that you are a 10-star general, but I humbly request a favor, sir. As I'm sure that you know, a good friend of mine, Marlene, pushed me off the top of a granite structure in Central Park today, putting me in the condition that I am now in. But I'm not here to talk about me, I'm here to talk about her. She feels so much guilt about what she did even though I know – and I have told her that I know – that she didn't mean to do it. You know her heart, too, and also know that she didn't mean it. So what I guess I'm asking is that you watch over her and protect her and help her to realize that I truly hold nothing against her. You know, in all honesty, seeing Marlene be able to smile again would mean more to me than being able to walk again. Please help her. Amen."

Both Marlene and Skipper meant every word of their respective prayers, which had little to do with themselves and almost everything to do with each other. It was a similarity that existed in both of their hearts; they had more in common than they realized.

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PART TWO: ONE WEIGHT LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS

Throughout the next several days that followed her pushing Skipper off the obelisk in Central Park, Marlene remained in the indoor part of her habitat in a kind of self-imposed isolation. The passing of time was not helping; she had trouble sleeping and considered herself to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She had at one point thought of both leaving the zoo for good and of obtaining tranquilizers at the veterinary station to try to calm her anxiety, but in the back of her mind she heard Skipper telling her not to do either.

Meanwhile, as Marlene sat down in a chair to begin yet another day of solitude, Kowalski returned to the penguins' HQ to report to Skipper on his meeting with Roger the alligator.

"We have confirmation that Marlene is still here," Kowalski then stated. "Roger told me that he has been hearing her cry a lot at night lately, and while that's not the greatest news, at least it suggests that Marlene is just choosing to stay inside."

Skipper sighed, as Kowalski's report now confirmed what Skipper had been thinking all along: that Marlene was still hurting from what had happened in the park six days prior. Such thoughts – and now a reality – were taking their toll on Skipper, as it hurt him to know that Marlene was hurting.

"Kowalski, I don't know how much more of this I can take," Skipper said. "Marlene is all alone feeling bad about herself, and I so would like to just see her so I can help her. But I also understand that she needs some time to herself to just think and be able to move on. I just know that I'm not going to be quite with it until I see her again."

Overhearing Skipper and Kowalski's conversation was Private, who was himself concerned with Skipper's ever-growing depressive state. Private then made a decision that he knew Skipper would not approve of, so he secretly snuck out of the HQ as Skipper and Kowalski continued talking, figuring that he would not be noticed as missing for at least 15 minutes or so.

He then waddled over to Marlene's habitat and knocked on her door.

"Hey, Marlene, it's Private," he said. "Can I talk to you for just a moment?"

Inside, Marlene was sitting on her couch. Although she wanted to just be left alone, she didn't have the heart to tell the young penguin to go away.

"Are you alone?" Marlene called out.

"Yes," Private replied. "And no one else even knows I'm here."

"OK, come in," Marlene said. "But only for a moment."

Private then entered and waddled over to Marlene. He was a bit startled and a bit concerned with Marlene's appearance, her eyes being red, fur unkempt, and appearing to be overall sluggish.

"Are you OK?" he asked.

"Physically, yes," Marlene replied. "Now what was it that you wanted to see me about?"

"I'm worried about Skipper," Private said. "The fact that you've been here in your habitat feeling bad all these days makes him sad. In other words, Skipper's knowing that you're upset is upsetting to him. I think it's depression."

"As if I hadn't done enough to Skipper already," Marlene said sadly. "First, I try to kill him. Second, I paralyze him. Now–"

"Skipper can walk," Private interrupted with. "He's not paralyzed."

"Since when?" Marlene asked.

"Since about an hour after you left the veterinary station six days ago," Private stated. "We brought him back to the HQ, and soon after he stood up."

"Well, that's great news," Marlene said. "Maybe one of these days I can even drag my sorry self out of here and go see him."

"I think he would like that," Private said. "It would really cheer him up."

Marlene gave off a little smile.

"OK, Private, if that's all you have to tell me, I'd kind of like to be alone again," she then said. "Please don't be offended, because it's nothing against you or anyone else, I'm just going through a very difficult part of my life right now."

Private nodded.

"OK, Marlene," he said as he then waddled over to the door. "Take care of yourself."

As Private left, Marlene suddenly felt a lot better having learned that Skipper was not paralyzed. Although she was still far from letting things go, she at least no longer had that particular weight on her shoulders.

She decided right then and there that she would see Skipper the next morning.