MGJH HP Hour 1

Puff the Penguin

By Kaia and Tara

Once upon a time, there was a little penguin named Puff. He lived on the Galapagos Islands, and he loved to swim. He had seven brothers; Roberto, Skuttle, Mumble, Puffle, Flipper, Icebox, and Waddles, Puff is the youngest. When the penguins were very young, their parents were eaten by a leopard seal, so the oldest, Skuttle, was forced to become the leader. Puff's brothers ignored him and tried to get rid of him because he was the runt of the family, and he was quite a nuisance. One day, Roberto told Puff to go look for some shrimp for lunch. He sent him on his way towards the jungle instead of the ocean, hoping he would get lost for awhile. Puff obeyed because he wanted his brothers to be proud of him for once, so he walked into the jungle. After getting deep into it, he couldn't find his way out. Puff was very scared, he didn't know what was in the jungle, and he kept hearing weird noises. All of the sudden, he looked up and saw a little monkey. He screamed. The monkey laughed and jumped to the ground next to Puff. Puff backed up and stuttered, "W-w-w-who are y-y-you?"

"My name is Bobo, I'm a monkey. Who are you?" the monkey replied.

"My name's Puff. I am a penguin and I got lost looking for food for my family. I just wanted to show my brothers that I'm not a nuisance." Puff replied. "I will help you find your way back home. Said Bobo.

"Oh, thanks! I love you! Let's be friends forever!" shouted Puff. They hugged each other and started their journey home. They walked about five feet when Bobo stopped and pointed to a rock.

"The moss is growing on that side of the rock, which means that that way is north." Bobo stated.

"Well, if you say so, pal!" Puff said, smiling.

"Do you know which way you came from, little buddy?" Bobo asked, scratching his head. Puff thought about this for a little while, then said, "I have no idea!" "Darn it. Well, I guess we just find our way out." Bobo said.

"Don't you know the way out? You live in here, don't you?" asked Puff.

"No, I was running away from my parents and I got lost too." Replied Bobo.

"Oh no! We're both lost!" exclaimed Puff. "Well, I guess we just walk north, or waddle in your case." Said Bobo, smiling. Puff laughed, and they headed north. After walking for quite a while, they stopped to rest.

"We'll never get out!" Puff said, exasperated.

"Yes we will, don't you worry!" Bobo claimed. But out of nowhere, a jaguar pounced onto the ground next to them. They both gulped. "Run, little food, run." Growled the large cat, creeping towards Bobo. But, Bobo was too fast, he grabbed Puff with his long arm, jumped into a tree, and climbed as deep into it as he could without giving away their position. The jaguar was also climbing in the tree, hunting for its prey. When he spotted it, he lunged towards Puff and Bobo. Bobo leaped from branch to branch, trying to escape the beast. The jaguar finally stopped him dead in his tracks.

"You'll never outrun me, you stupid monkey." The jaguar snarled.

"Yes I will!" Bobo exclaimed, jumping to a nearby tree. Bobo wasn't fast enough for the cat, and the jaguar growled smiling, " I will give you one chance to escape me." He smiled.

"What is that?" asked Puff, bravely. "I am talking to the monkey!" he snarled back. Puff shrunk back. Bobo patted his head to comfort him, then replied to the jaguar, "And what is your offer?"

"If you can beat me in a race without the penguin, I will let both of you go." The jaguar snapped.

"Hmm...I'm not sure I can trust you. You might eat me during the race." Bobo replied, loosening his grip on Puff.

"Oh, very smart little monkey. But no, I will not eat you during the race." The cat said. "Okay, but first, I want to know your name." Bobo said, smiling.

"And why is that?" asked the jaguar.

"Just curious." Bobo answered.

"Alright, my name is Rip." He smiled, "And what is yours and your penguin friend's?" "My name is Bobo, and this is Puff." Bobo replied. "Alright. Let's get on the ground. First to the tree with the two trunks wins." Rip growled, pouncing to the ground. Bobo followed, then set Puff next to a tree.

"Okay." Said Bobo.

"The penguin starts us." Growled Rip.

"On your mark, get set, GO!" yelled Puff. Immediately, Rip took off, but Bobo hopped into a tree and swung his way down. Bobo was first to the tree by an inch. Out of breath, Rip said, " Good match, young Bobo. You are free to go on your way now."

"Thank you very much, Rip. Do you happen to know where the Northeast Forest is? That is where I live." Bobo said.

"Of course, it's straight forward about a fourth of a mile! Then of course, turn left." Rip replied

"Okay, thank you. Maybe we'll see you later." Bobo waved, then Puff followed him away from Rip. "Wow! That was incredible, Bobo! Thank you very much for rescuing me!" Puff beamed.

"Aw, no problem! Anything for a best friend." Bobo said, cheerfully. When they reached Bobo's home forest a monkey bigger than Bobo ran out of it and hugged him tight. "Bobo! We've been worried sick about you! Where have you been?" Puff assumed it was Bob's mother.

"Mom, I got lost, and found Puff, here. We were on our way back and ran into a jaguar but I beat him in a race so he let us go." Bobo replied.

"Well, hello there, Puff!" his mom greeted the penguin. "Bobo, you'll have to tell me all about your adventure in the house. Puff, do you care to join us?"

"Sure!" exclaimed Puff. He was very happy to be wanted. Inside Bobo's family's tree, they told their story, and played games until dark. Bobo's parents insisted that Puff stay, so he did. Puff told them how great it felt to finally be wanted, then told his whole story about his life. Bobo's family felt bad for him and invited him to live with them as long as he wanted. Puff accepted and a few days later, they decided to adopt him.

Back at home...

"FAMILY MEETING!" Skuttle yelled for all of his brothers to hear. They all gathered around. Alright, guys. I have noticed that someone in our family is missing. Who is it? Quick! Headcheck. Say here when I call your name. ICEBOX!"

"Here."

"MUMBLE!"

"Here."

"WADDLES!"

"Here."

"PUFFLE!"

"Here."

"ROBERTO!"

"Here."

"FLIPPER!"

"Here."

"PUFF!" there was no answer. "Alright, where is he, guys?" Skuttle asked sternly.

"Uh, I sent him to go get us some lunch." Roberto answered quietly.

"How long ago?" asked Skuttle

"About two days..." Roberto answered

"TWO DAYS?!?" screamed Skuttle. Roberto nodded. "Oh my gosh, Roberto! Why are you so mean to him? Which way did you send him?" Skuttle frowned.

"Towards the jungle." Roberto replied quietly.

"And what do we eat that lives there?" Skuttle asked, grumpily.

"Nothing." Roberto answered.

"EXACTLY! Search party! Any volunteers besides Roberto?" Skuttle asked.

"What?" Roberto whined.

"Hey! You did this, you're gonna help find him. Anyone?" There was silence, but then Puffle raised his flipper. "I'll go. I miss the little guy." He said. No one else raised their flipper.

"Okay then. Roberto, Puffle, Waddles, and Icebox. You get to go find Puff. Stay together and don't get lost. Good luck, men!" And off they went, into the jungle.

.........................................

As Puff was laying awake in his bed, he wondered if his brothers even noticed that he was gone, and if they even cared. He missed them, but was very mad at Roberto for sending him here. But if it hadn't been for him, he would have never met Bobo, or his new family of monkeys. Here, they all appreciated him, and he was very happy. He was also lonely at the same time.

"Hey Puff, time to get up!" Bobo said, hanging from the top bunk.

"Okay." Puff said, getting to his feet.

"Something wrong, bro?" Bobo asked, smiling at getting to call him that.

"No, I'm fine." Puff answered.

"You sure?" asked Bobo.

"Yeah." Replied Puff.

"Okay, let's go outside!" exclaimed Bobo.

So they left and played in the trees for awhile.

"Ugh! Where are we?" complained Waddles.

"In the middle of the stupid jungle that Roberto had to send Puff to!" grumbled Icebox, glaring at Roberto.

"Sorry! It's not like you guys have never been mean to him before!" Roberto snapped back.

"Calm down guys, it's already been done. We just need to find him." Said Puffle.
"Icebox groaned, "Poor little guy." He said.

"Yeah, why'd you have to be so mean to him, Roberto?" asked Waddles.

"Will you guys please stop? You have done things just like this." Roberto replied. There was a growl behind them, and they all stopped dead in their tracks. A jaguar came out from behind a bush, and walked towards them threateningly. But then he suddenly stopped and said, "Hey, do you guys know Puff?" They looked at each other, then Puffle answered, "What's it to ya?"

"Just wondering, 'cause I know him." Rip answered.

"We just so happen to know him. Where is he?" asked Puffle.

"He and his little monkey friend were headed to the Northeast Forest." Rip replied

"Okay, thank you very much!" Puffle said happily, and led his brothers in that direction. They had walked for a little while, and then saw a monkey and a penguin outside of a large tree. Icebox started running towards them, and when he got to Puff, he wrapped his wings around him and squeezed him tight.

"Puff! I'm so happy we found you! I am so sorry that Roberto sent you here! Who's your little friend?" Puff smiled and replied, "This is my new brother Bobo. He helped me get out of the jungle."

"What are you talking about a new brother?" Waddles asked

"Bobo and his family adopted me." Puff replied matter-of-factly.
Puffle stepped forward and said, "Well he can't, because you belong to our family. It's time to go home, Puff.

"No, I don't want to! You guys are mean to me I like it here. I'm actually appreciated!" Puff yelled.

"We appreciate you, Puff! I'm sorry I sent you in the wrong direction. I love you, bud! We need you." Roberto gushed.

"Thanks, but you're only saying that to get me to go home." Puff responded.

"No, he's not, Puff! We really do love you." Icebox said.

"Then why are you guys always trying to get rid of me?" asked Puff.

"We don't really know. We're stupid." Replied Waddles. Bobo's mom came out of the house.

"Is everything okay out here? Who are you four?" she asked.

"It's alright, mom. These are Puff's brothers." Bobo replied.

"Oh, well hello there. Would you care to come in?" she asked, gesturing towards the house.

"Sure." Replied Puffle, and they followed her into the big tree.

Bobo's brothers and sisters, Bongo, Crackers, Jack, Curly, and Baby stared at them.

"Hi penguins! Who are you?" asked Crackers.

"They're Puff's brothers." Bobo answered. After talking for a while and figuring everything out, the monkeys and penguins decided to make one huge family. So, Bobo, Puff, Icebox, and Bobo' s dad went back to Puff's home, got the rest of their brothers, and moved into a large tree in the same forest. There, the huge family lived happily ever after.