Percy Penguin's Day Out

The schoolchildren had just left Pet's Corner. This meant that all
of the animals could relax again. Especially Percy Penguin. He was hot
and ready for his daily swim in his pool.

However, today he got a very big shock. All of the water in the pool
had gone!

"Where is my water?" he exclaimed loudly. He looked all around him.
There must be some mistake. Then he saw the sign: DUE TO A WATER
SHORTAGE, THERE IS NO WATER FOR THE POOLS.

"Now what shall I do?" Percy asked himself.

Then he remembered what some of the children had been saying to each
other during their school visit. Something about a place called the
seaside. He remembered one little boy talking about sand and lots of
lovely water to swim in.

"That's it," said Percy. "I shall have to go to the seaside for my
daily swim."

Percy set off in search of the seaside. He had waddled for sometime
when he met a hedgehog.

"Hello," said Percy.

"H..Hello, my name's Hettie Hedgehog. What's yours?"

"Percy Penguin. Do you know the way to the seaside?"

"N..No," replied Hettie Hedgehog. "W..Why do you ask?"

" 'Cause that's where I'm going, silly," said Percy Penguin.

"Ooooh," said Hettie Hedgehog. "I've never been to the seaside. Can I
come?"

Percy looked at the hedgehog and replied: "I suppose so."

Percy and Hettie Hedgehog set off. Percy waddling and Hettie Hedgehog
keeping up as best as she could. They had been walking for some time,
when they met a spider.

"Hello," said Percy.

"H...Hello," said Hettie Hedgehog.

"Why, hello you all. My name's Susie. Where are you all going?"

"Do you know the way to the seaside?" asked Percy.

"I'm sorry, honey bun. Never been there myself. I'd sure be glad to
help you look though," answered Susie Spider.

Percy looked at the spider, "I suppose so," he said.

Percy, Hettie Hedgehog and Susie Spider set off down the road. Percy
waddling. Hettie Hedgehog keeping up best as she could. And Susie
Spider, spinning her webs above them. After some time they met a
peacock.

"Hello," said Percy.

"H...Hello," said Hettie Hedgehog.

"Hello, honey bun," said Susie Spider.

" 'Ello," said the peacock bowing low. "My name's Peter. Ver are you
going?"

"Do you know the way to the seaside?" Percy asked.

"Vell, no I don't. But I 'ave alvays vanted to go zere. Can I join
you?"

Percy looked at the peacock and replied: "I suppose so."

Percy, the hedgehog, the spider and the peacock set off down the road.
Percy waddling. Hettie Hedgehog keeping up best as she could. Susie
Spider spinning her webs above. And now Peter Peacock, strutting behind
them. After some time they met an owl.

"Hello," said Percy.

"H...Hello," said Hettie Hedgehog.

"Hello, honey bun," said Susie Spider.

" 'Ello," said Peter Peacock, bowing low.

"HELLO," hooted the owl. "My name's Ollie. Where are you going?"

"Do you know the way to the seaside?" asked Percy.

Ollie Owl looked down from his perch. "Of course I do. I am wise, and I
know everything. Follow me," Ollie Owl hooted as he flew away.

Percy, the hedgehog, the spider, and the peacock followed the owl down
the road. Percy waddling. Hettie Hedgehog keeping up as best as she
could. Susie Spider spinning her web above and Peter Peacock strutting
behind them.

Finally, after some time Ollie Owl landed gracefully on to a branch.
"Look over there," he hooted.

Percy stopped and rubbed his eyes. For there, in front of him, was the
place called the seaside. The water sparkled and twinkled in the
sunlight. Percy waddled as fast as his stumpy legs would allow him. He
was sure that the seaside wasn't big enough for him and all of his new
friends.

Percy had just reached the edge of the water, when he heard soft crying
close by. He turned around to see where the crying was coming from.
Then he saw a butterfly lying in the sand. It was sobbing loudly.

"Whatever is the matter?" asked Percy.

The butterfly looked up at Percy. "I've lost one the eye patterns on my
wings. Will you help me to look for it?" sobbed the butterfly.

"Oh dear. That's awful," Percy answered. "You can still fly though
can't you?"

"Well yes," replied the butterfly. "But all of the other butterflies
will laugh at me now, 'cause I'm ugly."

"Mmmm," said Percy, more to himself than to the butterfly. "Mmmm," he
said again. He looked down at the butterfly. "I have an idea. Will you
let me try to help you?"The butterfly nodded its small head up and
down. Percy waddled over to his friends. He explained his idea to
them.

"Y..Yes, I w..would like to help," said Hettie Hedgehog.

"Of course, I vood be zo pleased to help," agreed Peter Peacock.

"Why sure, honey bun. I would sure like to help the little critter,"
Susie Spider said.

Percy called the butterfly over to where he waited with his friends.
"You must sit very still whilst I try to mend your wing. Will you do
this?" asked Percy.

The butterfly agreed eagerly. Percy took a needle from Hettie
Hedgehog's spiny coat. Susie Spider gave some of her silk to Percy.
Finally Peter Peacock gave Percy an eye design from his fanned
tail.Percy set to work. He made a small hole in the needle. Then he
pushed the silk through the hole. Percy bent down and he carefully
stitched the eye design on to the butterfly's wing.

When Percy had finished he told the butterfly to look at itself in the
water. The butterfly flew away. Then the butterfly flew back
again.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," said the butterfly, as it fluttered its
wings happily.

"It doesn't quite match your other design. It's the best I could do.
Are you sure it's all right?" said Percy.

"Yes thank you," answered the butterfly. "Now I really must fly. Bye,
bye."

Percy and his friends shouted goodbye to the butterfly as it soared
high through the sky.

"Phew, what a day," Percy said, as he waddled to the edge of the sea.
Finally after a very long day Percy enjoyed his well-earned swim in the
water.