The Penguin Wearing a Traffic Cone
Braidon Urquides
I was running through the park on my way to see the circus. I used the rhythm of my shoes pounding against the pavement to help me keep time. The circus started in 25 minutes, and if I kept a steady pace, I could make it in 15. In my focus, I accidentally bumped into someone. I started to say sorry but stopped when I realized what I had bumped into. Not another person, but a penguin, wearing a traffic cone atop its head.
I looked at the bird, perplexed by the absurdity of the sight. Admittedly, it did look cute, but I had to stay focused. I tried to sidestep around the penguin, but to my surprise, it sidestepped as well, mimicking my actions. I sidestepped in the other direction, and the penguin followed. Frustrated, I made a beeline for the big top and ran away. I’m not letting a penguin wearing a traffic cone get the best of me, I thought to myself. I turned around, and I was taken aback to see the penguin waddling after me, menacingly, clapping its flippers together in its pursuit.
I had reached the park’s end, the penguin now out of sight. I just had to cross the street, and I was there. However, the street was blocked off due to a nasty accident. I asked a bystander what had happened, and she said that because of a missing traffic cone, there was a massive pile up. I stood in shock thinking about how the penguin unknowingly did such a horrible thing. Eventually, after taking a slight detour to skirt around the accident, I reached the circus right on time; however, there was a note posted on the door. Today’s show is cancelled, one of the penguins for our act escaped, it read. I let out a sigh of defeat. I had just let a penguin wearing a traffic cone get the best of me.
I looked at the bird, perplexed by the absurdity of the sight. Admittedly, it did look cute, but I had to stay focused. I tried to sidestep around the penguin, but to my surprise, it sidestepped as well, mimicking my actions. I sidestepped in the other direction, and the penguin followed. Frustrated, I made a beeline for the big top and ran away. I’m not letting a penguin wearing a traffic cone get the best of me, I thought to myself. I turned around, and I was taken aback to see the penguin waddling after me, menacingly, clapping its flippers together in its pursuit.
I had reached the park’s end, the penguin now out of sight. I just had to cross the street, and I was there. However, the street was blocked off due to a nasty accident. I asked a bystander what had happened, and she said that because of a missing traffic cone, there was a massive pile up. I stood in shock thinking about how the penguin unknowingly did such a horrible thing. Eventually, after taking a slight detour to skirt around the accident, I reached the circus right on time; however, there was a note posted on the door. Today’s show is cancelled, one of the penguins for our act escaped, it read. I let out a sigh of defeat. I had just let a penguin wearing a traffic cone get the best of me.
Braidon Urquides is a cadet currently in his third year at NMMI. He is a member of the NMMI Scholars Program who loves to write. In his free time, he enjoys writing, reading, and watching comedies. After graduation in Spring of 2022, he intends to become an English Professor.