MONKEY & PENGUIN's First Big Adventure

MONKEY & PENGUIN's First BIG Adventure
By: Ronn Roxx (August 1999)

Monkey & Penguin are not what you might think. They are stuffed..., but that doesn't keep them from having a good time, and always being the center of attention. This story is about the time they decided to take a trip by themselves for the first time. They had been on many trips before with their Momma and Papa, but this time they decided they could go out on their own. Momma and Papa were off to work at exactly 8 am, just like every other morning - but this morning instead of sitting on the bed and looking out the window like they had always done they hatched a plan, a plan to take a trip.
Monkey & Penguin had been to many places with Momma and Papa; Disneyland, the zoo, on a ferry, to the Drive In, and even to a couple of birthday parties! But they also spent lots of time looking out the window, and unfortunately seeing the same view day after day. They wondered, what is past what they can see out the window? They could see the store where Momma and Papa bought all the groceries, they could see the street, and sidewalk, and many large trees, but what was past the trees?? Maybe something exciting for a Monkey and a Penguin!!
As always, exactly at 8 am, Momma and Papa came into the bedroom and picked up Monkey & Penguin for their morning hug, and then placed them on a stack of pillows high enough to look out the window. Then just like that they were out the door and the sound of the door being locked could be heard... then silence. Monkey & Penguin were home alone.
They decided today would be the day they found out what was outside the window past those tall trees they could see. Because they were so small, and they were placed on a pile of pillows on the bed, it was a long way down, and they weren't sure how they could get down, but finally Monkey decided to just jump, as he knew the bed was nice and soft and would make for a easy landing. Monkey jumped first and then called for Penguin to jump. Although Penguin is a bird, he wasn't to sure this was such a good idea, but Monkey assured him he would try to catch him. Penguin jumped and landed right on Monkeys head and the two of them landed in a heap on the bed. Quickly they got up and looked at each other and started blaming the other, Monkey saying Penguin didn't give him warning he was jumping, and Penguin saying Money didn't try to catch him... and with that they began to wrestle on the bed until they rolled too close to the edge of the bed and they both fell to the floor with a "thwump!". At least now they didn't have to figure out a way to get down to the floor.
They made their way to the front door and stared at the large door. There was no way they could open that door by themselves, it was just too big and they were way too little. Both Monkey & Penguin couldn't believe their adventure was over before it even began. Although they had made it all the way to the front door, they could not open it to go out side to see all the things they could see from their window everyday. Monkey was so disappointed he leaned against the door and began to moan in disappointment. Just then, a small door flipped open and Monkey fell out the door onto the patio. It was the cat door. He had forgotten all about the cat door that Momma and Papa had installed for their cat Checkers. Monkey peered his head back into through the tiny door and called for Penguin, who quickly waddled out through the small opening and out into the big world! They had done it... they were now outside. But where to start first? They looked at each other and then off into the distance where they could see what looked like a giant ice cream cone flying in the air above the trees. Whatever it was, it was just the kind of thing a Monkey and a Penguin had to see on their first big adventure!
When you're the size of Monkey & Penguin, a few blocks can seem like another country, and since this was their first trip, they had no idea how far it or how long it would take, but they were on their way to find the "Giant Ice Cream Cone" in the sky. Monkeys long legs afforded him a much longer stride, and poor Penguin had a hard time waddling at top speed to keep up with him. They headed off down the sidewalk in the direction of their quest and continued walking for more than 20 minutes. They passed all sorts of strange things they had never seen before, but nothing was interesting enough to distract them from their goal.
Lucky for Monkey & Penguin it was the middle of the morning and the streets were nearly bare. Finally they came to a street corner and from there they could see the Ice Cream cone right in front of them!! It was amazing... and HUGE! The kids loved ice cream, and this was by the far the most ice cream they had ever seen in their entire lives!!! Neither Monkey or Penguin could read very well, so when they got there and saw the sign, they both looked at each other and asked the other, "What does it say?". Monkey, being a little older was able to read a little better than Penguin, and tried his hardest to decipher the words below the giant ice cream cone... They said "Ice Cream Planet".
They pressed their noses up against the window and looked inside to see people sitting and eating ice cream cones, Sundays, milkshakes and all varieties of other good looking treats. But unfortunately this place didn't have a cat door, and they had no idea how to get inside. Monkey walked over to the the giant front glass door and stood on the large red carpet, peering in at all the great looking treats. Penguin waddled over to Monkey, and as he stepped onto the red carpet, to both of their surprise, the front door swung open! "Ooohhhhhh" came from their months which were now wide open in amazement.
The neon lights from inside left a hazy glow around the ice cream counter and with the coldness from inside the store combined with the warm summer air outside created just a slight cloudy fog before them. They had found some kind of utopia... they had found "Ice Cream Planet"! They ran up to the counter and peered in at all the ice cream flavours, and began drooling as they imagined how each tasted. The kind old gentleman behind the counter looked at them and asked, "Do you want to try something in particular" to which the pair began wildly pointing to every flavor in the counter. The ice cream man looked at them and said, "you don't look like you have much money, but how can I refuse two customers who obviously appreciate ice cream as much as you!?" The man took out two cones and began scooping up the different flavors that the pair were pointing to. He handed them the cones and winked as he said "Enjoy!".
Monkey & Penguin quickly headed over to a table and began devouring the two large ice cream cones they had been given. There was so much ice cream in each cone that both Monkey & Penguin were stuffed half way though, but they couldn't leave any ice cream behind. They sat there and stuffed it in until it was all gone, and then sat looking at each other with big grins on their faces! What a wonderful place... What a wonderful day! Just then they realized they had been gone all morning and needed to get home before Momma & papa came home for lunch and found them missing.
They headed home as quickly as their little legs would take them. When they got home, they popped though the cat door and began climbing the starts to the bedroom. As they got the to foot of the bed they heard the keys being put into the front door and they knew Momma & Pappa were home. Penguin hopped up on Monkeys shoulders and then hopped onto the bed, and then tried his best to help Monkey up, but Penguins little flippers could barley reach Monkey down on the floor. In desperation, Monkey jumped with all his might and grabbed onto Penguin and hauled himself up onto the bad, and the two of them positioned themselves onto the pillow that Momma & Pappa had left them this morning. Monkey and Penguin both let out a large sigh, they had made it and Momma & Pappa would never know they had been out on their big adventure.
Just then Momma & Pappa walked into the room and asked their usual question, "So kids... what did you do today... kept out of trouble I hope!?" The kids looked at each other and smiled knowing their secret was safe. But, just then, Momma looked at Monkey and asked "How did you get ice cream all over your fur??"