Penguin Problems

Chapter One

Peso POV

I really didn't want to get up this morning. The alarm going off was just another reminder of the exhaustion I was gonna go through again. It took me so much time to get myself ready in the morning recently that I started setting myself an alarm at 6:30 instead of 7:00, which is normally when the rest of the crew gets up. I made my way over to my closet, picking out a clean suit for the day. I didn't bother brushing my teeth, fixing my feathers, or putting any effort into my looks. I looked in my mirror and let out a breathy sigh.

Here we go again.

I didn't sleep much last night. While climbing down the ladder, I could feel my eyes fight the desire to keep them open. I eventually reached the HQ floor. I settled down on the floor facing towards the ladder.

"Morning, Peso."

"Ahh!" I turned around to see Captain Barnacles, sitting at the table, sipping hot coffee out of his mug.

"Oh, uh, morning, Captain."

Captain gazed his eyes up and down my body. I knew he wasn't checking me out romantically, but something must have been throwing him off.

"Uh, Peso? I think you're forgetting something."

"Oh?" I asked. 'What's that, Captain?"

He kept looking me up and down. "Oh! My medical bag. Thanks, Captain."

"Well, yes, but not just that."

I realized that I hadn't looked at myself this morning. I looked down at my suit, noticing that my belly was black and my outer body was white.

You've got to be kidding me.
I let out a shriek and began to hustle up the ladder and back to my room. Thank God it was only him who saw-

"Ahoy, matey!"

I let out another shriek when I saw Kwazii behind me.

"Ah, dress up day, isn't it?" He let out a chuckle but I ran back to my room as fast as I could. I ran into my closet find another suit and made sure to put it on the right way.

I sat on my bed, flustered with embarrasment. I let not one, but two people see me dressed like a fool. And at this point, I was too tired to care. I flopped back onto my bed, passing out the minute my head hit the pillow.

-

"Peso?"

I was startled to hear the Captain's voice as he knocked on my door. What time is it? I turned to look at my alarm clock: 9:30.

Dang it.

"Uh, come in."

The Captain opened the door, a bit stunned to see how much of a mess my room is. I braced myself for a long, harsh lecture.

"Captain, I'm sorry, I guess I just fell back asleep without setting an alarm and-"

"Peso," he said, while putting his paws in front of him. "It's okay. I'm not mad."

My chest deflated hearing that. I was relived to hear I wasn't being punished. Not that he had ever punished me before, but the fear followed me around constantly.

"I'll be right down," I assured him. "I promise this time." He smiled, nodded, and made his way down to the HQ. I went back to my mirror and stared at myself in shame. Surely, someone was going to figure it out soon. Lying is not my specialty. I picked up the energy and made my way down to HQ. Again. With my suit on the right way this time.

"Morning, Peso!" Dashi was always ready to greet me with a smile. The rest of the crew said hi and waved to me as well.

"Where's Tweak?" I asked.

Kwazii looked at me, puzzled by my question. Did I say something wrong?"

"She's on a family trip, remember?"

Shoot. I had asked the same question yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that. "Oh, right."

"Captain?" Asked Shellington. "What time is the feast tonight?"

"About seven o'clock. Which reminds me: Remember, tonight is a costume party! The vegimals will be voting on who has the best costume. Make sure to go all out!"

It just hit me that it's Halloween. That's why Kwazii had made the comment about dress up day.

The rest of the crew began bickering about their costumes, while I just stood there in the middle of the room. I completely forgot to find a costume. I guess my inside out suit would work. But then again, everyone would be probably laugh at me. It's a dumb idea, anyway.

"Uh, you alright, matey?" It wasn't until Kwazii began to speak to me that I realized I had been zoned out for awhile now.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" He added. "You look like you got hypnotized by a sea ghost.

I feel like I've been taken over by a sea ghost.

"What was that?"

Oh. Had I said that out loud? "Uh, yeah, I'm sure."

Kwazii took that for an answer and walked back to the table to play cards with the Captain. That was a close one. I was desperate to leave the room, so I came up with a quick excuse.

"May I be excused? I have to check up on the sea cucumber in the sick bay."

"Peso, you brought the sea cucumber back to her home yesterday." Dashi's comment stopped me dead in my tracks. I came out with another quick excuse.

"Well, she... made a huge mess! I'll have to clean out her tank before any more creatures come in."

The Captain shook his head in confusion. But he let me be excused. "Go ahead, Peso."

"Thank you, Captain." And I ran out of the room.