The Penguin's Snowy Letter

The Penguin's Snowy Letter Çınar BİBER

On a small snowy island, where the sea sparkled like crushed ice, lived a little penguin named Pip. He had a black back, a white belly, and a soft grey downy chest. A tuft of fluff stuck up on his head, and he always wore a small red scarf with white stripes wrapped twice around his neck. Pip loved to waddle to the shore and watch the waves roll in. One cold morning, something shiny caught his big dark blue eyes. 1

It was a bright red envelope, tucked between two smooth stones. Pip picked it up with his tiny orange beak and turned it over. On the front, in wobbly writing, it said: 'To Pip, from Finn.' Pip's heart gave a happy hop. Finn was his best friend, who lived on another island far across the sea. Pip hugged the letter close and waddled home as fast as his orange webbed feet could carry him. 2

Inside his cozy ice hollow, Pip opened the letter. It was from Finn, the penguin with the green pom-pom hat and warm brown eyes. 'Dear Pip,' it said. 'I miss you. The snow here is soft, and the fish are tasty, but the island feels quiet without you. I hope this letter finds you. Your friend, Finn.' Pip read it three times. He smiled, but then his smile turned into a sigh. He missed Finn too. Very much. 3

Pip wanted to write back right away. He found a smooth piece of driftwood and a dark feather to use as a pen. But then he stopped. Who would carry his letter across the snowy sea? Pip was a penguin. He could swim, but the journey was long and cold. He sat down on the ice and looked at the wide, grey water. 'I need a friend with wings,' he said softly. 4

Just then, a snowy white bird swooped down and landed on a rock nearby. She had long grey wings with black tips and bright amber eyes. A little blue satchel bag was strapped across her chest. 'Hello!' she chirped. 'I'm Pearl the petrel. I fly letters between the islands. You look like you have something to send.' Pip's eyes grew wide. 'I do!' he said. 'But how did you know?' Pearl winked. 'A messenger can always tell.' 5

Pip showed Pearl the letter from Finn. 'I want to write back,' he said. 'But I don't know how to get it there.' Pearl flapped her long wings. 'That's easy,' she said cheerfully. 'I carry letters everywhere. I can take yours to Finn's island.' Pip jumped up and down, his little flipper wings flapping with joy. 'Really? You would do that for me?' Pearl nodded. 'Of course! Friends help friends.' 6

Pip hurried to find his driftwood and feather pen. He wrote: 'Dear Finn, I miss you too. Thank you for the letter. It made me happy. I hope you are well. The snow here is deep and the sea is cold, but your letter warmed my heart. Your friend, Pip.' He read it over and over. Then he folded it neatly and tucked it into Pearl's blue satchel. 'Fly safe,' he said. 7

Pearl tightened the satchel strap and stretched her wings. 'I'll be back soon,' she promised. 'The snowy sea is wide, but my wings are strong.' Pip watched her take off into the grey sky. She grew smaller and smaller until she was just a speck above the waves. Pip waved his red scarf until he couldn't see her anymore. Then he waddled back to his ice hollow and waited. 8

The first day, Pip watched the sky all day long. He counted the clouds and listened to the wind. The second day, he slid down snowy hills and peeked at the horizon. The third day, he sat on his favorite rock and thought about Finn. 'I hope he likes my letter,' Pip said to a passing snowflake. Waiting was hard, but Pip hoped with all his heart. 9

On the fourth day, a tiny dot appeared in the sky. Pip stood up tall. The dot grew bigger and bigger. It was Pearl! She swooped down and landed softly beside him. 'I have something for you,' she said, her amber eyes twinkling. She reached into her blue satchel and pulled out a bright green envelope. 'From Finn,' she said. 'He wrote back right away.' 10

Pip's flippers trembled as he opened the letter. It said: 'Dear Pip, your letter made me dance! I am so glad Pearl found you. The sea is wide, but our friendship is wider. I think about you every day. One day we will meet again on the ice. Until then, keep your scarf snug. Your friend, Finn.' Pip read it twice and hugged it tight. A happy tear rolled down his cheek. 11

Pearl perched on the rock beside him. 'I told you,' she said gently. 'Friendship survives distance. It flies across the snowy sea and lands right in your heart.' Pip smiled at her. 'Thank you, Pearl. You are a true friend too.' Pearl fluffed her white feathers. 'That's what messengers are for,' she said. 'And I am always happy to help.' 12

That evening, Pip wrote another letter to Finn. He told him about Pearl and the snowy sea. He tucked it into the blue satchel, and Pearl promised to deliver it on her next trip. 'I'll come back soon,' she said. 'There are always more letters to carry.' Pip waved goodbye, then waddled home to his cozy ice hollow with the two letters held close to his heart.