Little Penguin (11-3)

*Continued*

The next morning Rupert opened the door and called in, "Time to get up.  We would not want to waste the day now would we?"

Tim shifted in the bed and grunted.

"Come on now," indicated Rupert.

Rupert did not take a step in the room.  Rupert felt a twinge of fear that he might have to enter the room to wake up Tim.  Rupert banged on the wall in an attempt to wake up the sleeping penguin.  The little penguin moved a little more lively then he had done so far.

"I have cooked fresh fish for breakfast and I have to go work soon.  You cannot stay in my house while I am gone.  I am sorry for what happened to your family, but I can't trust you yet to be alone in my house," sternly Rupert communicated.

"Can I have a few more minutes?" inquired Tim.  He was fully awake after Rupert banged on the wall.  He did not want to get up.  He felt hopelessness throughout his whole body.  He thought that if he got out of bed that they Citizen Eaters would show up at the door to drag him away.  He knew that he could not stay in that bed forever, but he wanted to delay it as long as he could.

"Okay, just a few more minutes.  If you are not up by the time I get back I am going to throw you out onto the street without anything to eat."  Rupert hoped that Tim would get up before he had to leave, he really did not want to enter the room.  He did not know if he could kick the kid out on the street without filling his stomach.  He had made similar threats to his children when they were in home, but he never went through with the threats.  Thinking about his children caused a pit to form in his stomach.

Rupert was waiting at the dinner table with a empty plate in front of him.  He was staring in the direction the bedroom hoping that Tim would come out any second.  The door to the room where Tim was staying in started to creep open.

Tim knew that he had waited longer than a few minutes, but Rupert did not come to get him from the room.  Tim peaked through the door as it opened, to see if any Citizen Eaters or Rupert were waiting outside the door.  He stuck his head out and looked around to find which direction he would go.  He saw Rupert to his left waiting at the dining table.  Maybe he had not taken as long as he thought.

"Your fish are getting cold.  You better come and sit down."

Tim sheepishly made his way to the table.  He took a seat and began to eat.  Tim and Rupert stared at each other for what seemed like forever.  Rupert broke the silence with a question, "Have you decided what to do?"

*To Be Continued(3)*

©2014 Brady L.B.