The Last Chance

19. Unplanned Visit

Po looked around. It was almost in the dusk. Nobody was near.
Gong had caught them with his plans, suggestions and advice for the festival the whole day. Po's head still ached because of all these many words which still echoed through his head.
Carefully, he left the gate of the Jade Palace and went on tiptoes to the stairs.
"Po?"
Po froze. Slowly, he turned around. "Uh, yes?"
He forced a smile when he was seeing his friends.
"Are you okay?" Tigress asked.
"Where do you want to go?" Viper asked the next question.
"Uh, don't I have to do anything? I wanted to go to my dad. He wanted to tell me something," was all what Po came first into his mind.
"Again father-son things?" Mantis asked, too.
"Yes, something similar," Po walked backwards. "See you the..."
He lost the balance and fell down the stairs. His friends looked behind him where the panda rolled down in fast pace.

Po rubbed his aching body when he reached the end of the long stairs. He didn't have to walk long until his dad's restaurant. He heard voices from far way. The restaurant had filled with people and Mr. Ping was busy to serve the customers.
"Hi, dad," Po greeted when Mr. Ping passed him.
"Hi, Po!" Mr. Ping cried while walking. "How are you?" he continued when he was walking back to the counter.
"Well, fine..." Po scratched over his head and followed him into the kitchen. Mr. Ping filled more soup bowls with noodles, vegetables and so on.
"Uhm... dad?" Po asked quietly. "How is... our guest?"
Mr. Ping stopped a moment, then he continued his work. "Oh, he ate three bowls of soup. You should bring him more often."
Po frowned. It seemed that everything was alright. Slowly, he climbed up the stairs to his room. Shen lay on the mattress, a wing on his belly and had closed the eyes. He looked very satisfied.
Po tried to get a closer look and made some steps forwards. But a squeaking plank let him froze. Shen blinked and woke up immediately.
"What are you doing here?" he asked with angry voice.
Po lifted his paws. "It's all okay, but we have to be careful."
Shen lifted his head and looked at him skeptically. "What do you mean with careful?
"Well, I didn't tell, but I had the feeling that he could notice something."
"Who?"
"Po? Po?" Mr. Ping's voice called. "Someone is visiting you."
"I'm coming dad!" He looked at Shen. "We talk later."
With these words, Po walked down the stairs and reached the kitchen.
"So, dad, who's...
He choked on the word. The panda paled when he was seeing the dark face of Shifu.