Part Of A Family

Chapter 2

One thing was for sure: Raising an abandoned penguin chick, almost completely by himself, was proving to be difficult for Sven. Despite this, he had a family, and he'd never trade it for anything. As Freja grew up, nobody who saw her suspected anything; she had reddish-brown eyes, so she might as well have been Lovelace's daughter. Everything was perfect.

That is, until the secret slipped out when Freja was at school.

"You know, my parents said that a family is a mom and a dad. Not just dads." A chick teased. Right as she was about to defend herself, Freja got shoved to the ground. "You're just a freak!" They said, kicking some snow in her eyes. By the time she got up, Freja couldn't take it anymore and ran back home as fast as she could. Later, Sven saw his daughter, cold and crying.

"Is...everything okay, Freja?" He asked. She turned, and ran into him, almost crawling into his chest. "Did something happen at school today?" Freja, still speechless, only nodded. "Do you vant to talk about it?" Freja sniffed, and was able to speak again.

"Some kids found out I had two dads." She explained, much to Sven's worry.

"Did you tell them?" He asked. Freja understood that, for some reason, Sven and Lovelace didn't want anyone to know they were together.

"No, but...They called me a freak!" Sven gasped, shocked that chicks the same age as Freja were so cruel.

"No, Freja. You're not a freak. If anything, those kids are the freaks." He said, calming Freja down a lot. "Look, the people that think you're...wrong are the ones that have the most wrong with them. I don't vant you to insult them back, but I do vant you to not let it get to you. Do you understand?"

"Yes." She replied, smiling. The next day, she went back to school with a new confidence.

"Children, today might be one of the most important classes you'll ever have. All of you are going to find your Heartsongs." Freja raised her hand. "Yes?"

"I thought you didn't have to teach that anymore?" The teacher was a little surprised at her remark.

"You are...Freja? The thing is, a Heartsong is an inevitable part of your life as a penguin."

"It's just that one of my dads knew a guy with no Heartsong at all, and I figured that would change the lesson."

"Since you're so excited to be heard, why don't you try?" The teacher asked, mostly wanting Freja to stop her slightly political discussion. With that, she began to sing.

I will fight for, I have fought for how I love you
I have cried for, I will die for how I care
In the mountains, las campanas, están sonando
Todos los chicos y las chicas se están besando

From what she could see, everyone seemed to enjoy her song, even if they could only understand about half of it.

"Freja, could you repeat those last few lines?" The teacher asked.

"Oh, um...In the mountains, bells are ringing, and the boys and girls are kissing."

"Why did you say it like that?" Freja became instantly embarrassed at being singled out. She could tell that eyes were on her, and that the kids from yesterday would be waiting to pick on her again.

"That's just what I felt." After a few seconds of silence, the teacher called on another girl, who sang a very different song.

A love like ours
Could never die.
As long as I
Have you near me.

It was short, but it seemed just as appreciated as Freja's song. Later that day, she went to talk to the other girl, who was with two other boys.

"Hey. I thought your song was pretty good." Freja said.

"Thanks, yours too. I've never heard someone sing like that before. Are you from around here?"

"Actually, I grew up in Adelie Land. So, I guess the Spanish makes sense. I'm Freja, but I guess you already know that." She answered, making a little joke at her expense.

"I'm Bo, and this is Atticus and Erik."

"You're from Adelie Land? My dad's been there." Erik said, which made something click in Freja's mind.

"Wait, so you're...No way, your dad's Mumble?" He nodded. "Cool."

"You know him?"

"One of my dads do, but you already knew that too."

"If you don't mind me asking," Bo started politely. "Who are your parents?" Freja instantly got a little defensive.

"They'd rather I don't tell you. Never know who'll be good about that, you know? Anyway, I'd better go. It was nice meeting you." Freja said as she left.