Porky the Penguin (Stories for Littles)

Porky the penguin sat on a ladder pondering the truths of life.

If I climb this ladder, he thought, I will be far above.

I could see for miles and miles.

It would be like flying as the other birds do.

I should like this idea very much, he thought.

But the idea of climbing the ladder made Porky feel scared.

What is he fell?

What if he could never get down?

What if the ladder broke?

What if he didn't like what he saw?

The what-ifs ran through his head as he sat there on the bottom rung.

It seemed a horrible truth to just not know.

Minutes went by, then hours and days.

Until an owl flew by and stopped to say hi.

The owl, wide-eyed and wise, shared the joys of flying and all that could be seen when soaring up high.

Porky listened intently until his decision seemed clear.

Up the ladder he would go.

As he went up one rung he heard a small cheep and looked down to see a toad at his feet.

The toad, plump and mighty, shared the fun of digging in the mud and bouncing in puddles.

Now what shall I do, Porky thought to himself.

My path is less clear than ever before.

Alone, once again, Porky sat on that rung.

Until, all at once, he realized his choice.

To go up or go down was no reason to frown.

There was nothing to fear, lament, or regret.

Fun and adventure could be had either way that he went.

Up or down, right or left, there are things to be seen.

This rung has been safe but I must make haste, he said all at once.

And off he went with a smile on his face.

-NiKe