The Boy and the Rainy Penguin

The Boy and the Rainy Penguin - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

The rain came down in sheets, drumming on the roof and turning the garden into a muddy lake. Inside, a boy named Sam pressed his nose to the window, watching the storm. He wore his bright yellow raincoat and red rubber boots, just in case. His blue knitted scarf kept his neck warm. Suddenly, a flash of lightning lit the sky, and something small and black tumbled into the garden. 1

Sam pulled on his red boots and dashed outside. There, under the dripping rose bush, sat a little penguin. It was round and plump, with a glossy black back and a white belly. Its orange beak chattered, and its tiny flippers hugged its shivering body. The penguin looked up with big, shiny blue-grey eyes. 'Oh, you poor thing!' Sam said. 'Where did you come from?' 2

The penguin didn't speak, but it waddled closer and gently pecked Sam's boot. Sam noticed a little tuft of feathers on its head, all wet and droopy. 'You're not from around here,' Sam said softly. He knelt down and wrapped his blue scarf around the penguin. The penguin snuggled into the warmth. 'Let's get you out of this storm,' Sam said, and led the way to his garden shed. 3

Inside the shed, Sam found an old towel and dried the penguin's feathers. The penguin shook itself, then looked up at Sam with sad eyes. It pointed its beak toward the window, where the rain still poured. 'Do you miss your home?' Sam asked. The penguin nodded and let out a tiny, mournful honk. Sam's heart ached. 'I'll help you find your way back,' he promised. 4

Sam remembered a story his grandmother told him about a magical portal in the garden that could take you anywhere. 'We just need to find it,' he said. The penguin tilted its head. 'Come on!' Sam said, grabbing his green backpack. He packed a flashlight, a snack, and a map of the garden. The penguin hopped after him, its orange feet splashing in puddles. 5

They started by the old oak tree at the back of the garden. Sam shone his flashlight into the roots, but all they found was a sleepy beetle. The penguin pecked at a mushroom, but it was just a mushroom. 'No portal here,' Sam said. The penguin sighed. 'Don't worry,' Sam said. 'We'll keep looking.' They moved on to the flower beds, where raindrops sparkled on petals like tiny jewels. 6

Next, they searched the vegetable patch. Sam parted the tall beanstalks, and the penguin waddled between the cabbages. 'Any portal?' Sam asked. The penguin shook its head. It looked up at Sam with those big blue-grey eyes, and Sam could see it was trying not to cry. 'We'll find it,' Sam said, patting the penguin's back. 'I promise.' The penguin gave a little chirp of hope. 7

They checked the compost heap, the tool shed, and even the birdbath. No portal. The rain began to lighten, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. The penguin sat down and hugged its flippers around its round belly. 'I know you're tired,' Sam said. 'But we can't give up.' He opened his backpack and shared a biscuit with the penguin. They sat together, thinking. 8

Suddenly, Sam remembered the old mirror leaning against the garden wall. His grandmother had said it was special. 'Come on!' he shouted. They ran to the mirror, which was covered in vines and raindrops. Sam wiped the glass with his sleeve. Instead of their reflections, they saw a snowy landscape! 'Look!' Sam gasped. 'It's your home!' The penguin's eyes went wide with joy. 9

The penguin hopped up and down, flapping its flippers. It turned to Sam and nuzzled his hand. 'You go ahead,' Sam said. 'I'll be okay.' The penguin took a step toward the mirror, then looked back. It seemed to say thank you. Sam smiled. 'Go on,' he whispered. The penguin took a deep breath and hopped through the glass. For a moment, Sam saw it standing in the snow, surrounded by other penguins. 10

Then the mirror shimmered and showed only Sam's reflection again. The portal had closed. Sam stood there for a moment, feeling happy and a little sad. But he knew he had done the right thing. He had listened to his friend and helped it get home. 'Goodbye, penguin,' he said softly. 'I'll never forget you.' He picked up his backpack and walked back to the house. 11

That night, Sam lay in bed, listening to the rain tap on the window. He thought about the penguin's big blue-grey eyes and its happy hop. He felt proud. Helping someone wasn't just about doing what you wanted; it was about understanding what they truly needed. Sam smiled and closed his eyes. He dreamed of snowy mountains and a little penguin with a tuft of feathers on its head. 12

The next morning, the sun shone bright and warm. Sam ran out to the garden to check the mirror. It was just an old mirror again, but on the ground in front of it lay a single white feather. Sam picked it up and tucked it into his pocket. 'A souvenir,' he said. He knew the penguin was safe and happy. That was all that mattered. 13

From that day on, Sam always looked twice at the garden, just in case. He kept the feather on his bedside table. Sometimes, on rainy days, he would put on his yellow raincoat and red boots and visit the mirror.