With the Old, Mentor Flamingo
Wingy was no ordinary penguin. He was a young intrusive penguin. He had itchy feet. He adored exploring every single detail around him and he was permanently obsessed with new knowledge and exceptional skills. He was full of energy, a typical eager beaver.
Unfortunately, his curiosity was the source of countless troubles. Still, all the penguins in Antarctica remember how one day, when Wingy was two years old, he wanted to visit the polar bear’s cave. Well, he did. Luckily, the penguins saved him at the last minute before the polar bear was ready to pounce and gulp him in one swallow.
The little Wingy had a black, glinting coat with white shaggy hair in the middle of his forehead like a marvellous crown decorated with a gleaming, pure diamond. For that reason, when he was born, his mother wondered if one day, after he grew up, Wingy would be the king of all the penguins in Antarctica.
Wingy was also as smart as a whip. His little black eyes flickered with cheekiness. When he looks at you, you can see his tiny eyes twinkling merrily, full of brilliance and bravery.
At that moment in the middle of the day, he was roaming over the coast throwing some stones aimlessly that landed in the water with a PLOP. He was still busy with his strange dreams, yes, and his bizarre wishes about leaving Antarctica for a hot place.
Suddenly, he heard a voice calling him from the shore. “Wingy! Is it you? Are, quack, you, quack okay darling?” asked the old flamingo frantically, with her black, wide eyes glazing at him.
The old flamingo was an enormous sturdy bird. Despite her old age, she did not let years fade out her perpetual stunning beauty.
Her dark pink feathers covered her strong body like a silky, shimmering gown, whilst her long white feathers covered her lofty neck like a cozy velvety scarf.
All the penguins cherished and respected her. Everybody called her the “Old Wise Flamingo” because, if truth be told, she was a wise bird, as wise as an owl.
After all, she knew nearly all about the whole world that she had explored from North to South and from East to West. She was also the cherished grandmother not only for the little penguins of Antarctica but also for all the little cubs and calves that she met in her never-ending travels.
Everyone loved her and used to wait for her every time she returned to the penguins’ land, full of stories about the unknown world behind the wide oceans.
The old flamingo was busy packing up her baggage, but from her frantically searching black eyes, it seemed like she had lost her glasses somewhere.
“Yes, I am fine, Old Flamingo,” sighed Wingy with sorrow, “Mother Flamingo, I can see you are packing your bags, are you going anywhere?”
“Ah, little Wingy, you know, it’s time to leave this bone-chilling place and go to a hot island,” said the flamingo searching for her glasses. Then she added, “Hey Quack! You feel miserable young boy! Tell me what happened.”
“Oh, Old Flamingo, as usual, my family doesn’t believe me, today they mocked me, they don’t want to believe that I had a sun tanning yesterday,” replied Wingy nervously.
“Quack what! A quack tanning, here, in Antarctica? I’m gonna go quack apple!! I mean quack pear, cherry!!” exclaimed the old flamingo in astonishment, still searching for her glasses.
“HAHAHA! It’s a banana, Mother Flamingo!” chortled Wingy until tears of laughter fell from his eyes.
“Oh, I thought it was an apple, silly me! But who cares, they are all fruits!”
Wingy stopped talking for a short while, then, he approached the old wise flamingo and put his hand gently on her silky feathers, “Um… Old Flamingo, I know this will surprise you, but can I accompany you on your trip, please?” murmured Wingy in a weak, hesitant voice.
“Going with me, you’re joking Wingy!” screeched the old flamingo, then, she added nervously, “Ah! Where are these irritating glasses? I lost them again!”
“They are here, Old Flamingo, on the top of your head!” chuckled Wingy loudly.
“Oh finally!” sighed the old bird whilst putting on her huge red-frame glasses, “Excuse me, what did we talk about?”
“About me, Grandma Flamingo!” replied Wingy irritatingly. “I asked you if I could go with you, please? Please, please, my beloved Grandma.”
The old bird closed her eyes for a few seconds, she looked at the young penguin again, and then she whispered in a deep sigh, “Oh dear Wingy, you know that I love you. You always have been my spoiled little penguin, haven’t you? I can’t refuse anything you ask me to do, but this time I’m sorry, I can’t!” Then, she continued talking while shutting her backpack anxiously, “I don’t want to be in trouble with your parents.”
“Me too, I love you,” mumbled Wingy sadly,” please, I want to go with you, I’m bored to death here, inside this endless, frosty snow!”
“Bored!” replied the old flamingo, “so why don’t you go fishing with your dad?”
“I hate fishing!” answered Wingy furiously.
“What? Are you crazy Wingy? Fishing is WONDERFUL!” Then she added, narrowing her black eyes in suspicion, ” Fine, what about going camping with your friends?”
“I did lots of camping! I am brassed off! This foul land will kill me Mother Flamingo,” shrieked Wingy, his face covered with tears.
“No, Wingy. I am sorry, I really can’t do anything for you, don’t insist young boy, No MEANS NO!” answered the flamingo firmly before she left, leaving Wingy behind her, tears still flowing down his gloomy face.
“Wingy, sweetheart, are you okay? Where have you been all this time?” asked his mum worriedly. “We waited for you for dinner.”
The young penguin didn’t answer. He burst fiercely through the narrow corridor after slamming the front door violently.
“Wingy! Do you hear me?” yelled his mum loudly while waving her hand to catch his attention.
Alas, the little penguin didn’t hear her.
He was lost in his proper world, overwhelmed with plenty of anxious thoughts and oppressive feelings.
In his small sombre room, he remembered every word of the old flamingo then, in one quick movement, he jumped onto his bed, covered his face with his heavy fur blanket, and fell asleep.
It was nearing midnight.
Everything was silent, very silent and still inside the little warm igloo, apart from a loud piercing ZZZZ blaring from Wingy’s dad’s bed like the whistling of a train sprinting swiftly through the heavy gloom.
The little Wingy was already awake.
Quietly, he opened his wardrobe and took a few of his clothes, a hat, a pair of sunglasses and a camera. Then he tiptoed inside the kitchen, prepared a salmon sandwich and picked up a fresh orange juice can.
The sun rose, spreading a gleaming warm light over the white snow whilst the flamingo flock nearly finished arranging themselves for the long trip when, all of a sudden, a loud, excited voice cut their busy talks.
“Hi, Grandma Flamingo,” shouted Wingy giggling, “I am on the nose.”
“Oh dear me, what have I done?” the old flamingo asked anxiously, scratching her forehead.
“Here I am, with all my might! Remember Mother Flamingo, I went to the bear’s cave and never died!” cried Wingy whilst hopping excitedly towards the flamingo. “I AM BRAVE!”
“Yes, yes,” replied the old flamingo, “Thank you for reminding me of this.” Then she murmured, “Yes, that was after we had rescued you before you got chopped into pieces…”
“Oh Mother Flamingo, as I told you all the time, I am an early bird, don’t you see?”
“Oh yes! Thank God you are an early bird,” replied the old flamingo with a long sigh, “ but I guess you will make me a crazy night owl!”
Then she added kindly, ” My lovely baby, I am now old, a very old flamingo as you see. Don’t you worry about what will happen if I forget you, sweetheart? You know I start to forget so many things. ”
“Oh no, please don’t worry, Old Flamingo, we will have a wonderful trip together,” Wingy answered with confidence while tightening his belt over the old flamingo’s tall neck. Then, in a flash, he jumped on her back, grasped her neck tightly, and let out a yelp of joy, “Yee-haw! Let’s go, Granny! Hurry up, it’s time to explore the secret world! LET’S GO!!!!!!!!!”
