Sacrifice 02.09.15
Note: This chapter is humanized. It also contains character death.
— § —
Kowalski took a shaky breath and stood before the guests seated in rows of fold-up chairs. Suppressed sobs punctured the silence.
“I’ll be honest. When I was first told that Skipper had been killed, I nearly laughed,” he said. The guests’ expressions twisted in a mixture of shock and confusion.
“Not because it was funny, but because I’d always imagined Skipper would intimidate Death himself,” he explained, almost smiling. The guests relaxed and exchanged glances as they realized how right Kowalski was. “Even now, I almost expect Skipper to pop out of his coffin and leave us wondering how he did it.
“When I first met Skipper, I thought he was insane,” Kowalski continued. “The amount of effort he put into his elaborate plans to thwart evil was extraordinary. Sometime down the line, I realized . . . I was wrong. While his mind may have seemed twisted from the outside, he knew exactly how to navigate the inside. And he always came out on top. I’d always thought the key to understanding anyone’s mind would take years of neurological research, but in حالیہ years of knowing Skipper, I’ve discovered I was wrong about that, too.
“It doesn’t take logic یا any sort of scientific studies to understand the mind. All آپ have to do is stop thinking and pay attention. There was one thing that always kept Skipper going: love. Love for his brothers in arms, his friends, the people of New York, his country, and the world. He was always willing to give his life for this love. I guess he’s finally paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“You all knew Skipper as the strong, brave, hard-hearted leader. آپ knew him as a patriot, protector, and friend. But I knew him as a brother. He seemed strong and brave on the outside, but inside, he was petrified. Just stepping out of your apartment each morning was a risk. Anything could happen to any of us at any دیا moment, and there would’ve been nothing Skipper یا anyone else could’ve done to stop it. That’s what was always on Skipper’s mind, and why he was always so paranoid. It’s why he gave his life for all of us.
“When we went into this mission, Skipper told me that there was an envelope in his سب, سب سے اوپر dresser drawer. I asked him what was in it and why he wanted me to know about it. He replied, ‘You’ll know.’ It wasn’t until I received the message that he’d been killed did I realize what he meant. He’d known he was going to die, yet he went through with the mission anyway to protect us all. This morning, I found that envelope, and I would like to read it to you.”
Kowalski pulled out a piece of paper from his inside breast pocket.
“Dear friends,” he began. “If you’re reading this, then I’m dead. But I want آپ to know that that’s okay.” He choked a little and cleared his throat. “I assure آپ all that I’m in a better place now. I’ve never really been one hundred percent sure what happens in the afterlife—well, no one does—but if I am looking down on آپ all right now, I don’t want to see tears. If I do, I want آپ all to know that I’m slapping all of آپ and آپ just don’t know it.” Everyone laughed a little. The image of Skipper’s ghost slapping all of them was too believable. Kowalski continued.
“Don’t think of my death as losing a friend. Think of it as a lasting comfort knowing that you’re all safe, and can live on to tell my story. I knew a long time پہلے that I would die protecting those I care about. However I died, I promise آپ I did so peacefully, knowing that my sacrifice would keep آپ all safe.” Kowalski swallowed a lump in his throat and blinked back tears. “I don’t want to see sad faces at my funeral. I want to see smiles because we had a great run together. Happy times, sad times, crazy times, آپ name it—and I am so honored to have known آپ all. Yes, even you, Julien.”
Julien, who was in the front row, sobbed into Maurice’s shoulder, who patted his back.
“If all else fails, remember this: even though I’m not physically there anymore, I’ll always be with آپ all, in your hearts and memories. No one can ever take that from you. I love آپ all, and I hope to see آپ again in the very distant future. Signed, Skipper.”
Kowalski tucked the letter back into his breast pocket. There was a silence that fell over the guests as they tried to contain their sorrows.
“Skipper’s death was not in vain. We will always remember him for his greatest sacrifice above all else.”
Kowalski returned to Rico and Private’s side as the honor guard pulled the American flag from Skipper’s coffin and held it tautly as a seven man firing squad fired three volleys upon another officer’s command. A bugler sounded Taps. Once they finished, the honor guard ceremonially folded the flag into a tight triangle. Then the honor guard briskly marched to Kowalski and handed him the flag.
“This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service,” he said. Then he raised his right hand in salute before turning and marching back to his place.
Kowalski held the flag to his chest with one arm as he, Rico, and Private each knelt down and picked up a handful of soil and held it over Skipper’s coffin. Slowly, they let the soil fall.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” they all کہا simultaneously.
They then watched as Skipper’s coffin slowly receded into the ground. They raised a right hand in salute as they watched the bravest man they’d ever known return to earth in his final resting place.
— § —
Note: Taps is a traditional song played at military funerals. آپ can listen to it link. The first منٹ is the song, and the rest is a brief history on the origin of Taps if you’re interested.
Also, I had originally exceeded my one thousand word with this installment, and as I was condensing it, I realized how unneeded the word “that” is in many situations.
Note: This chapter is humanized. It also contains character death.
— § —
Kowalski took a shaky breath and stood before the guests seated in rows of fold-up chairs. Suppressed sobs punctured the silence.
“I’ll be honest. When I was first told that Skipper had been killed, I nearly laughed,” he said. The guests’ expressions twisted in a mixture of shock and confusion.
“Not because it was funny, but because I’d always imagined Skipper would intimidate Death himself,” he explained, almost smiling. The guests relaxed and exchanged glances as they realized how right Kowalski was. “Even now, I almost expect Skipper to pop out of his coffin and leave us wondering how he did it.
“When I first met Skipper, I thought he was insane,” Kowalski continued. “The amount of effort he put into his elaborate plans to thwart evil was extraordinary. Sometime down the line, I realized . . . I was wrong. While his mind may have seemed twisted from the outside, he knew exactly how to navigate the inside. And he always came out on top. I’d always thought the key to understanding anyone’s mind would take years of neurological research, but in حالیہ years of knowing Skipper, I’ve discovered I was wrong about that, too.
“It doesn’t take logic یا any sort of scientific studies to understand the mind. All آپ have to do is stop thinking and pay attention. There was one thing that always kept Skipper going: love. Love for his brothers in arms, his friends, the people of New York, his country, and the world. He was always willing to give his life for this love. I guess he’s finally paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“You all knew Skipper as the strong, brave, hard-hearted leader. آپ knew him as a patriot, protector, and friend. But I knew him as a brother. He seemed strong and brave on the outside, but inside, he was petrified. Just stepping out of your apartment each morning was a risk. Anything could happen to any of us at any دیا moment, and there would’ve been nothing Skipper یا anyone else could’ve done to stop it. That’s what was always on Skipper’s mind, and why he was always so paranoid. It’s why he gave his life for all of us.
“When we went into this mission, Skipper told me that there was an envelope in his سب, سب سے اوپر dresser drawer. I asked him what was in it and why he wanted me to know about it. He replied, ‘You’ll know.’ It wasn’t until I received the message that he’d been killed did I realize what he meant. He’d known he was going to die, yet he went through with the mission anyway to protect us all. This morning, I found that envelope, and I would like to read it to you.”
Kowalski pulled out a piece of paper from his inside breast pocket.
“Dear friends,” he began. “If you’re reading this, then I’m dead. But I want آپ to know that that’s okay.” He choked a little and cleared his throat. “I assure آپ all that I’m in a better place now. I’ve never really been one hundred percent sure what happens in the afterlife—well, no one does—but if I am looking down on آپ all right now, I don’t want to see tears. If I do, I want آپ all to know that I’m slapping all of آپ and آپ just don’t know it.” Everyone laughed a little. The image of Skipper’s ghost slapping all of them was too believable. Kowalski continued.
“Don’t think of my death as losing a friend. Think of it as a lasting comfort knowing that you’re all safe, and can live on to tell my story. I knew a long time پہلے that I would die protecting those I care about. However I died, I promise آپ I did so peacefully, knowing that my sacrifice would keep آپ all safe.” Kowalski swallowed a lump in his throat and blinked back tears. “I don’t want to see sad faces at my funeral. I want to see smiles because we had a great run together. Happy times, sad times, crazy times, آپ name it—and I am so honored to have known آپ all. Yes, even you, Julien.”
Julien, who was in the front row, sobbed into Maurice’s shoulder, who patted his back.
“If all else fails, remember this: even though I’m not physically there anymore, I’ll always be with آپ all, in your hearts and memories. No one can ever take that from you. I love آپ all, and I hope to see آپ again in the very distant future. Signed, Skipper.”
Kowalski tucked the letter back into his breast pocket. There was a silence that fell over the guests as they tried to contain their sorrows.
“Skipper’s death was not in vain. We will always remember him for his greatest sacrifice above all else.”
Kowalski returned to Rico and Private’s side as the honor guard pulled the American flag from Skipper’s coffin and held it tautly as a seven man firing squad fired three volleys upon another officer’s command. A bugler sounded Taps. Once they finished, the honor guard ceremonially folded the flag into a tight triangle. Then the honor guard briskly marched to Kowalski and handed him the flag.
“This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service,” he said. Then he raised his right hand in salute before turning and marching back to his place.
Kowalski held the flag to his chest with one arm as he, Rico, and Private each knelt down and picked up a handful of soil and held it over Skipper’s coffin. Slowly, they let the soil fall.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” they all کہا simultaneously.
They then watched as Skipper’s coffin slowly receded into the ground. They raised a right hand in salute as they watched the bravest man they’d ever known return to earth in his final resting place.
— § —
Note: Taps is a traditional song played at military funerals. آپ can listen to it link. The first منٹ is the song, and the rest is a brief history on the origin of Taps if you’re interested.
Also, I had originally exceeded my one thousand word with this installment, and as I was condensing it, I realized how unneeded the word “that” is in many situations.
Dearest Penguins,
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?! آپ took away all our hardly worked profits from performing songs on television. So I've come to announce that your annual fee of "borrowing money" is about 2 million dollars. Oh yes, I almost forgot about Kowalski's latest attempts to attract Doris... again, which is another 2000 dollars. Anyhow, try to be normal penguins for once and return the fees of money.
From,Your دوستوں At Hoboken. PS Savio is still seeking revenge :P
Dear Hobokeneers,
See آپ on the little floating zoo in the sky!
From, HIGHLY CLASSIFIED PS You've made a bid mistake!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?! آپ took away all our hardly worked profits from performing songs on television. So I've come to announce that your annual fee of "borrowing money" is about 2 million dollars. Oh yes, I almost forgot about Kowalski's latest attempts to attract Doris... again, which is another 2000 dollars. Anyhow, try to be normal penguins for once and return the fees of money.
From,Your دوستوں At Hoboken. PS Savio is still seeking revenge :P
Dear Hobokeneers,
See آپ on the little floating zoo in the sky!
From, HIGHLY CLASSIFIED PS You've made a bid mistake!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
Doris please read this!!Anyone can read it too
The scientist's love has departed
As both of our worlds go by
Every single nanosecond
I think of آپ دن and night
In my دل there is no that is second
You'll always be the سیب, ایپل of my eye
I'll تلاش the world
Near and far then high and low
My love will show
Just to hold آپ gently
Don't want to let آپ go
I need a moment in my life
To be with you, I'll be true
Without realizing our isolation
With love and Science
I am deeply torn سے طرف کی desperation
In every experimentation
You're an inspiration
Besides the problems and life collisions
Like Skipper کہا " You're a distraction"
Now we're inter-vented
And separated for good
Up to now my love has departed
But.. Still "I'm screwed"
We're like fragments that were split
یا gas molecules, so far away
Now, I'm broken in tiny bits
But deep inside my heart
Your loving silhouette will stay
The scientist's love has departed
As both of our worlds go by
Every single nanosecond
I think of آپ دن and night
In my دل there is no that is second
You'll always be the سیب, ایپل of my eye
I'll تلاش the world
Near and far then high and low
My love will show
Just to hold آپ gently
Don't want to let آپ go
I need a moment in my life
To be with you, I'll be true
Without realizing our isolation
With love and Science
I am deeply torn سے طرف کی desperation
In every experimentation
You're an inspiration
Besides the problems and life collisions
Like Skipper کہا " You're a distraction"
Now we're inter-vented
And separated for good
Up to now my love has departed
But.. Still "I'm screwed"
We're like fragments that were split
یا gas molecules, so far away
Now, I'm broken in tiny bits
But deep inside my heart
Your loving silhouette will stay
The boys agreed to Kowalski's terms without asking questions. He injected her with the goop and within سیکنڈ she was back to her normal self. A سال LATER-SPRING.
Lilly had just injected herself with the hormone stablizer so she would not go love- crazed again. Just then, Mort arrives. " Hi pretty پینگوئن, پیںگان lady!!" " Hi Mort." Lilly says in a friendly tone. "What'cha got there?" she asked. " A letter for you!" He gives her the letter and runs off." Wait... I can't read." She says to herself. So Lilly heads off to Mason's habbitat. " Mason!" Lilly calls. " Do آپ think آپ could read this to me? I have no idea who wrote this!" " Okay. Phill! This nice پینگوئن, پیںگان would like a translation if آپ may?" Phill comes and does his sighn language thing. " Ooh.." says Mason suprisingly. "Looks like you've got a secret admirer." Lilly blushes and tries to hide the nerveous expression on her face. " What does it say?"
Lilly had just injected herself with the hormone stablizer so she would not go love- crazed again. Just then, Mort arrives. " Hi pretty پینگوئن, پیںگان lady!!" " Hi Mort." Lilly says in a friendly tone. "What'cha got there?" she asked. " A letter for you!" He gives her the letter and runs off." Wait... I can't read." She says to herself. So Lilly heads off to Mason's habbitat. " Mason!" Lilly calls. " Do آپ think آپ could read this to me? I have no idea who wrote this!" " Okay. Phill! This nice پینگوئن, پیںگان would like a translation if آپ may?" Phill comes and does his sighn language thing. " Ooh.." says Mason suprisingly. "Looks like you've got a secret admirer." Lilly blushes and tries to hide the nerveous expression on her face. " What does it say?"
It was midnight. A box arrived at the Zoo. It was دیا to Zookeeper Alice, who brought the کریٹ, کھوکھا over to the پینگوئن, پیںگان exhibit, then opened it. Out came two penguins, a small one, and a taller one. Alice left once the two creatures were in the exhibit. "Where are we?" asked the smaller penguin. "I don't know.us It's too dark. A football stadium, maybe?" The two dozed off.
"Skipper, who's that?" a voice said. "I don't know, but they better leave! Rico!"
"Bleh!"
The girls woke up. "Who are you?" the small one said. "I'm Skipper," one said, "this is Kowalski, Private, and Rico." "Bleyableh!" کہا one of the taller ones. "Oh. Well, I'm Kat, and this is Ally. Nice to meet you!" کہا the taller girl. There was a long silence, broken سے طرف کی Rico. "Bleh!" he yelled.
"Skipper, who's that?" a voice said. "I don't know, but they better leave! Rico!"
"Bleh!"
The girls woke up. "Who are you?" the small one said. "I'm Skipper," one said, "this is Kowalski, Private, and Rico." "Bleyableh!" کہا one of the taller ones. "Oh. Well, I'm Kat, and this is Ally. Nice to meet you!" کہا the taller girl. There was a long silence, broken سے طرف کی Rico. "Bleh!" he yelled.