Skipper's Skipper

Chapter 1

It was a warm and sunny morning at the Central Park Zoo, 0800 hours to be exact. Everything was going by

its normal schedule as usual. The monkeys, Mason and Phil were having their morning "chat", Marlene, the

otter was eating her clam cereal, the lemurs Mort and Maurice were aiding to King Julien's every whim. " A

little to the left," barked Julien. " I cannot be having my feet exposed to the sun. Isn't that right feet?" He

said while petting them.

The penguins on the other hand were finishing up their morning training. Today's lesson was camouflage

and search and rescue. " Well done team," Skipper, the lead penguin, yelled as he put one of his flippers in

the air. " High five." Just after the penguins slapped flippers, a homing pigeon flew by, landed on the

platform, and delivered Skipper an envelope. The pigeon glared at Skipper and tapped its claw. "What,"

Skipper glanced back with a raised brow.

" These deliveries aren't free ya know," the pigeon said holding out his claw.

" Rico," bellowed Skipper. Rico waddled up to Skipper. " Pay him. Please." Rico, without hesitation, coughed

up a couple of bags of birdseed, a currency amongst pigeons, and handed them over to the mail carrier.

" Thank-you," the pigeon smiled politely and took off for his next delivery.

" What's it say? What's it say," cheered Private, the youngest penguin, excitedly in his British accent.

" I haven't even opened it, Private," snarled Skipper as he handed the envelope over to Kowalski. "

Kowalski? Analysis."

Kowalski carefully scanned the envelope, studying both the size and the writing on the package. " It

appears to be an important, confidential letter, Skipper." He concluded as he handed the letter back over to

Skipper. Skipper opened the letter slowly, but carefully, and took out a neatly typed paper.

" Well? What does it say," Private asked again curiously.

Skipper read the letter out loud:

"Dear Skipper,

I will be coming to your headquarters for an inspection of not only you as Captain, but your whole team as well on

July 7th, Saturday, at 01200 hours. Remember Soldier; I will be expecting great things out of all of you. So you

had better be prepared when I get here.

Stay frosty,

Tank, General of the Army"

Skipper froze in fear, starring into space. Today was July 7th and there was still so much that his team has

not even learned yet.