There was a grumpy penguin, who hated Christmas day. The jolly times and family always seemed to get in his way.
The children were loud and laughing. The mothers talked and cooked. The uncles were happily lounging, taking the TV nook.
The grumpy penguin stormed away, walking down the street. He didn't mind the cold chill that was nipping at his feet.
A car came out behind him, and before the penguin knew, the driver crashed into him, and through the air he flew.
The grumpy penguin landed on a snowbank, next to a little house, and was picked up by a young girl in a pretty, purple blouse.
The girl looked at the grumpy penguin and quickly treated all his wounds. She then set him on a pillow, saying ‘Take Care’ and ‘Heal real soon’.
The grumpy penguin woke up and saw the girl who rescued him, sitting on the floor. Staring at the windchimes glistening above her own front door.
A thump came down next to him, and the grumpy penguin turned. A black cat strolled forward with soft and shiny fur.
"Poor child" said the cat “since the accident, she cannot hear a tune. Yet she looks up at those chimes, wondering what song they blew."
The grumpy penguin's gaze softened to the child who could no longer hear a sound. Trapped in total silence when Christmas was around.
“Not fair” thought the grumpy penguin “ the girl is living out my dream. Though if silence brings her sadness, what could that well mean?”
Later the young girl fell asleep on her bed, and the grumpy penguin left. Though he stopped for a moment in the backyard, creating a sight no one would forget.
The cat smiled as he watched the grumpy penguin, then later tugged on the little girl's sheets. To experience this magnificent present, she couldn’t stay asleep.
The little girl yawned awake and gazed around, dazed and confused. The cat meowed for her to follow him, and she did without snooze.
Finally reaching the backyard, both the cat and the girl beheld a beautiful sight. A whole set of glittering windchimes, lit up by a green, hanging lights.
The girl smiled as she ran out, arms outstretched, ringing all the chimes. And though she could not hear them, it was clear she was having a good time.
From afar the grumpy penguin smiled, pleased with his hard work. Now he had to go back home and say ‘sorry’ for being a jerk.
"I'll treasure all the laughter. I’ll treasure all the cheer. I'll treasure all my family, each and every year."
"And if I lose my senses, may the glory of this night, remind me to never dwell on darkness and always look towards the light."
The End