Penguin Problems

Chapter Two

Peso POV

"Octonauts, to the launch bay!"

Another Octo-Alert? I was really hoping I wasn't needed on this mission. Sure, I wanted to help other creatures, but watching them suffer is draining. Like it makes me want to suffer.

Quick, get that thought out of your head!

Spoiler alert: The thought did not leave my head.

I was the last to join my crew in the launch bay. None of them seemed to notice as Captain was in the middle of explaining our mission. I didn't make out any of his words until he said, "Peso, you're in the Gup-A with me and Kwazii." I immediately ran into the gup and took a seat in the back.

--

"Mission complete. Well done, Peso!"

I smiled. I wanted to get home as soon as possible.

We made it back around 5:30. The feast was to begin at 6:00. Everyone was getting into their costumes.

Costume.

I still hadn't managed to find a costume for myself. But at this point, I'd given up trying to find one.

I made it to the kitchen where I saw all the Octonauts, decked out in sea creature costumes. Captain Barnacles was dressed as a crab, Dashi as a sea turtle, and Shellington and Inkling dressed as each other. Of course, Kwazii was dressed as a Great White Shark. The Vegimals all had little ghost costumes made by their aprons. And here I am, dressed up as a super boring, lame penguin.

I took my usual spot between Kwazii and Dashi, and right across from the Captain. I stared at my plate, which consisted of red seaweed on a stick, kelp cakes that were made to look like vampires, and a glass of water with a green curly straw. I took a few bites before realizing I wasn't hungry. Kwazii nudged me a little, asking, "Why haven't you eaten much?" The Captain must have heard him, because he turned to look at my mostly empty plate, then me.

"I guess I ate too much today." The two of them looked at me, shaking their heads. Then it hit me:

I haven't eaten breakfast or lunch today. And they were well aware of that. I felt Kwazii grab my flipper and he shrieked, "Yeow! Peso, what happened?"

I looked down to see my flipper, dripping with blood. I looked at my utensils. I must have grabbed my knife while eating and ... you know...

"Oh, I must have picked at it by accident." I looked down right as I said that. "I think I'm going to go clean it up." I stared at Shellington, who was about done eating. I knew he would want seconds. "Just take my plate, Shellington."

"What?" The Captain was catching up. He was going to find out. And I couldn't let that happen. I slipped down the Octoshute. I grabbed a bandage and wrapped my flipper, but I didn't do any of the necessary precautions. It was becoming more difficult to hide the secret I've been hiding for weeks.

Mom always told me to never tell a lie. I've always lived by that. Until now, that is.

The issue is, the Octonauts are my family. Whenever one of them has a personal problem, they tend to come to me. I'd give them hugs, hold them tight, and let them cry until they had no more tears to give. They always seemed to feel better afterwards. I know the crew would react the same way if I was hurting, but I've been embarrassed to tell them. I can't be seen as the weak link. I want to prove that I'm fully capable of taking care of myself.

"Peso? It's Kwazii."

"And Captain. May we come in?"

Uh oh. I quickly made my bed. It didn't look as good as normal, but it was somewhat decent. "Come in."

They walked, both carrying serious expressions on their face.

"Who won the contest? How was-"

"Peso," Kwazii said as he looked me dead in the eye. "Don't change the subject."

When Kwazii sat down on my bed, I knew this wasn't going to be good.

The Captain looked at me dead in the eye as well.

"Peso, we need to talk."