Reece and the Great Penguin Race

Look what I dusted off the shelf! My blog! It’s back, well at least sort of.

I’ve been working on a children’s story, and thought I’d share a portion of it on a day when uncertainty and apprehension seem to be the norm.

This is still a work in progress, but would love to hear some feedback. It’s from a story called “Reece and the Great Penguin Race.”

Mr. Plunderdunk whipped the brightly covered blanket off the object next to him. And there, standing right in front of the classroom was . . . a penguin.

“Ladies and gentleman,” began Mr. Plunderdunk, and then corrected himself. “Or should I say, boys and girls. I present to you . . . Pedro the Penguin!

The class all stared, including Reece, who couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Pedro is THE. MOST. AMAZING. PENGUIN. IN THE WORLD!” declared Mr. Plunderdunk.

Pedro the Penguin’s expression didn’t change.

“Pedro can juggle!”

Pedro the Penguin just stood there.

“He can work complicated math problems without paper, pencil or even a calculator!”

Pedro the Penguin just stood there.

“Pedro is a MASTER chef, and he can make scrumptious ice cream sundaes.

Pedro the Penguin looked at his toes.

AND . . . ” Mr. Plunderdunk said with a dramatic flair ” . . . he’s the fastest bird on the planet!”

Pedro the Penguin burped.

The class didn’t know what to say. No one, that is, except Reece.

“Fast? He doesn’t look fast at all,” said Reece. “He can’t even run! He just waddles around.”

“That, my young man, is where you’re wrong,” said Mr. Plunderdunk. “This animal is a rocket when it comes to running. AND juggling. I’ll have you know that he can beat ANYONE in a race.”

Reece stood up. “I don’t believe it!”

The rest of the students gasped.

“AND . . .” said Reece as he became very serious. “I challenge Pedro to a race!!”

The students gasped even louder. A race? With Reece? Against a Pedro the Penguin?
Nothing like this had ever happened at school before.

Mr. Plunderdunk just smiled. “You, my young friend, just made a serious mistake. Prepare to . . . how do they say it . . . eat his dust!”