On the tropical beach, Penmo, an obese emperor penguin witch doctor, stands tall amidst the other penguins, his dark, glossy feathers shining in the sun. His beady eyes scan the crowd as he searches for his next patient. Suddenly, a small but long, thin penguin waddles up to him, its spine noticeably curved and unable to hold its posture straight. The other penguins murmur amongst themselves, some looking on with concern, others with amusement. Penmo, ever the skilled healer, beckons the little penguin closer.

With a soft, reassuring tone, Penmo explains that he must sit on the patient's spine to keep it straight. The little penguin thinks that’s a bad idea, so he tried to get away but his friend stopped and hold him and saying: "It's okay, you're gonna be fine, trust Penmo!"

Penmo ready for sitting position, he’s started to waddle his big bottom rhythmically and sits down on the patient's spine, his heavy body pressing the other penguin's back into the warm sand. He begins to sway slowly, rhythmically, drumming his belly with one flipper while chanting a Hawaiian scat melody with the other. The patient, terrified and in pain, squirms and flails, but Penmo's weight is unyielding.

His blubbery body surrounds the other penguin, smothering him, Penmo's farts, warm and moist, waft over the helpless patient, adding to his discomfort. The patient's struggles grow weaker as exhaustion sets in, and he eventually passes out, unable to bear the combined assault of Penmo's weight and stink. “Yeah that’s better. So he won’t have to move so quickly for awhile.”

Unperturbed, Penmo continues his healing ritual, swaying more vigorously now, his dark feathers shimmering in the sunlight. He picks up a ukulele from nearby and begins to strum it expertly, his beady eyes never leaving the patient's body. The melody he plays is haunting and enchanting, “What? I’m always do that when I’m sitting on his spine. Don’t worry, he’s gotta be okay.” He humming and swaying, his bulk shifting rhythmically, as if in dance with the music.

Penmo ask little penguin’s friend a question, "So…. How did it happened, that his spine are curved up like that?” The little penguin's friend, looking a bit embarrassed, says, "Well, you see, he was trying to impress this big rock out on the beach, you know, the one that all the other penguins use for, um... never mind. He was trying to impress it, and he kept jumping and flapping his wings, and he just kept doing it, and... well, he just kind of overdid it, I guess." Penmo nods understandingly. "Ah, I see. Well, that's quite common among young penguins. They think they're invincible, you know? It's just a part of growing up."

“Yeah, but not the way he’s bend hurting himself,” he said. “Yeah, yeah, that’s true.” Penmo gets the point. “But what I meant was, he has to learn how to control his impulses, you know? Sometimes, you have to know when to stop, especially when it comes to impressing others. And, oh wait a minute,” He started to fart again. “That’s better, think that he’s gotta do that screaming again, is he?”

He realize that he not and he’s mistake just a bliss and move with swaying and continued to talk. “Anyway, sometimes, you just have to accept that some things are more important than impressing a stupid rock on the beach. So, I think it's best if you just let him rest and recover, and when he's feeling better, maybe you could have a talk with him about, you know, being more responsible and thinking about his own well-being before trying to impress others. Maybe that'll help him grow up a bit more, huh?" The little penguin nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, you're right. I'll talk to him later. Thanks, Penmo."

“Anytime, um, just rub my belly for a good luck,” Penmo said for good fortune, and he did.

Penmo waddle slowly to the patient's side and gently nudge him with his beak. "Hey there, buddy. You feeling any better?" The patient, still unconscious, twitches slightly. Penmo sighs and continues, "Listen, I know you were just trying to impress that rock, but sometimes you've gotta know when to stop, ya know? And now look at you, all curled up like a little egg. It's not worth it, man."

He pauses for a moment, considering his words. "Look, when you wake up, I want you to promise me that you'll be more careful in the future. You don't have to impress anyone to prove your worth. Okay?" The patient groans softly, indicating that he might be coming to. "And don't worry, I'll help you get back on your feet. We'll work on some exercises together and have you jumping and flapping like the best of them in no time."

Penmo's voice softens as he leans in closer. "But first, you need to rest and heal. You can't keep pushing yourself like this. You're not invincible, you know. You're loved, just the way you are." He hesitates, unsure if the patient is even conscious enough to hear him. "And if you ever want to impress someone again, impress me. Prove to me that you can be responsible, that you can take care of yourself and your friends. That's what really matters."

With a gentle nudge, Penmo helps the patient roll onto his side, supporting his weight with a reassuring wing. The patient groans again, but this time, it sounds less like pain and more like exhaustion. Penmo chuckles softly. "That's it, just rest. You'll feel better soon." And add up, “And sorry for farted you, man. Just have a Jumbo Fish Ala sandwich.”

He takes a moment to observe the patient, noting the way his feathers ruffle slightly with each breath and the way his eyes flutter beneath their closed lids. It's a delicate balance, being both supportive and firm, but Penmo has had plenty of practice over the years. As the patient begins to relax, Penmo gently strokes his back, feeling the warmth of his body through his downy feathers.

"Listen," he whispers, "I know it's hard, but trust me when I say that this pain will pass. And when it does, you'll be stronger for it. You'll have learned something about yourself, about your limits. And that's the most important thing." He pauses, considering his words. "Besides, who says you can't impress someone by being responsible and taking care of yourself, right? That rock will still be there tomorrow. You don't have to rush things."

The patient opens his eyes, looking around groggily. "What happened?" he croaks. "I feel... weird." Penmo smiles reassuringly. "You just gave it everything you had, buddy. Your body needs a little time to catch up. But you're going to be okay."

He pauses, considering his words. "Look, I know it's hard to accept, but sometimes you just have to know when to quit. And I think deep down, you knew that, which is why you're still alive. So, why don't you take this time to think about what's really important? Is impressing a stupid rock worth risking your life for?"

The patient looks away, embarrassed. "I don't know," he mumbles. "I just... I just wanted them to notice me, you know?" Penmo nods understandingly. "Trust me, they do notice you. They just want you to be happy, and healthy. They don't want you to risk yourself for something so meaningless."

He leans in closer, their feathers almost touching. "You're a good bird, you know that? You've got a lot of friends who care about you. So why not focus on making them proud? Show them that you can take care of yourself, and that you value your life more than just impressing some stupid rock."

The little penguin gets up and feels magically felt better, nodding slowly. "You're right, Penmo. I guess I just got a little carried away. Thank you for talking to me and helping me through this. You're a really good friend." Penmo chuckles softly, his wings rustling in amusement.

"Of course I am. That's what friends are for. And there, see? You getting up just fine. No bend up like a pretzel, Huh?” The little penguin noticed that he is fine, “How does this possible?”Penmo shrugs his wings nonchalantly. "It’s the magic of the bottom, You've learned a valuable lesson today. Sometimes, you just have to know when to quit, you know? And trust me, there will be other opportunities for you to impress them. But for now, focus on taking care of yourself and your friends. That's what really matters."

The little penguin thanked him, Penmo said: “So rub my belly for good luck and be on your way. Now don’t be hard on yourself.” The penguin complied, rubbing Penmo's belly gently. As he did so, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you, Penmo. You're the best."

Penmo waved his wings dismissively. "Don't mention it. Now go, enjoy the rest of your day, and remember what I said. You'll do great." The little penguin nodded, gave Penmo one last smile, and scampered off towards the beach, feeling lighter and more at peace than he had in a long time.

As he walked, he took in the beauty of the surroundings, appreciating the sand between his toes and the warmth of the sun on his back. He spotted several of his friends playing in the waves, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. But then he remembered Penmo's words, and he knew that he had made the right decision. There would be other opportunities to impress them, but for now, he needed to focus on taking care of himself and enjoying life.

Eventually, he joined his friends in the water, swimming and splashing with renewed vigor. They chattered away, asking him how he was feeling, and he told them about his experience with the rock. They all nodded understandingly, and some even shared their own stories of times when they had pushed themselves too far. They laughed together, enjoying each other's company, and for a moment, the little penguin couldn't help but feel as if he truly belonged.

Fin.

Created by T.L.