"Skipper, I've just received word that the zoo is going to have a new assistant working summers." Kowalski reported to Skipper, the top penguin. "What intel do we have on him?" Skipper asked. "That's the thing, Skipper. This new assistant is a girl." Gasps spread out through the penguin HQ. Only Skipper was not amused. "So it's another female. We'll escape the way we always have. Now, intel." Skipper ordered. Kowalski pulled out his notebook. "Well, her name is Raquel and she is born in America." Skipper nodded. So far so good. "She does in fact love animals. And her favorite, penguins!" Sighs came from all beaks. A girl who loved penguins passed inspection. "When does she start?" Private asked. Kowalski checked his notes. "Today." He said. Rico and Private whooped. Skipper was emotionless as he raised a feathery eyebrow at his unit.
Later, as the penguins stood waiting for the new girl. "Skippah, do we do the smile and wave routine or the cute and cuddly?" Private asked. Skipper thought this over. "Cute and cuddly, boys. Commence." They started acting all adorable when Raquel turned the corner. Skipper stopped, staring at her with his beak open. The world fuzzed out so there was only Raquel rocking that zoo uniform. Her burgundy hair was held back in a bun. Her glasses made her deep green eyes seem bigger. Skipper was drooling. Raquel was beautiful. The other birds were drooling. "She's a beautiful angel." Rico jabbered something the other penguins didn't understand. "She puts the 'gee' in geek." Kowalski said. Skipper raised his flipper. He turned to his comrades. "Men, while all these descriptions are fairly right, they do not do her beauty justice. There are no words for her beauty." Kowalski and Rico nodded. Only Private realized the intention behind those words. "Skippah, are you......in love?" Skipper looked around him with wide eyes, trying to think of an excuse. "Young Private! What a joke!" Skipper forced a laugh. Kowalski and Rico copied him. "Skipper?! In love?! That's scientifically impossible!!!!" Kowalski said through his laughs. Okay, that one hurt a little. A wooden plank smacked the habitat floor. Raquel walked onto the habitat. "Hey, guys." All penguins sighed at the sound of her voice. Private walked up and hugged her leg. Rico already had a death grip on the other one. She walked stiff legged so she wouldn't hurt either penguin. Wow, she can do an awesome penguin waddle. Skipper thought as Raquel walked towards him and Kowalski. She carefully sat down, forcing Private and Rico to release their holds. "Who's hungry for fish?" She asked as she brandished a bucket. The smell of the sweet food of the sea hit all penguins. Rico started to hop. "Feesh! Feesh! FISH!!" He screamed as he tried to take the bucket from Raquel's hand. She laughed, setting the bucket on the ground. Taking a fish out, Raquel secretly slid the penguin's needed daily vitamins since they wouldn't take it voluntarily. She gave it to Rico who gobbled it immediately. Private held back a little as Kowalski waddled up to the pretty zoo assistant. "Tell me, my dear. What of the science world can we share together?" Kowalski asked. Sadly, the penguins forgot she couldn't speak their language. She smoothed his feathers, causing Kowalski to sigh. "So you do know of penguin scratching spots, hmm? I can live with this." He murmured. Private curled up on her lap after receiving his fish. Rico and Kowalski fell asleep on either side of Raquel. Skipper finally summoned up the courage to walk up to her. She smiled. Hoover Dam, I'll do anything to see that smile. He thought as she rubbed his back. Skipper closed his eyes in happiness. Raquel picked him up. Skipper looked into her green eyes. Visions of them together spun around his head. She tickled his belly, making him chuckle. (Yeah, Skipper don't giggle. He chuckles!) She fed him some fish and he fell asleep, feeling too happy.
