Karate Max in

Forever Sadness In New Zealand

By Kevin Armerding

Before heading for camp, I look up into the night sky for a brief moment. I don't look at them much anymore for they make me sad, make me remember of how things used to be. My dad would take me out to pick on the animals that would hang at the beach, my dad would tell me and my sister stories at night, we used to go on walks and have fun. Those were the good old days. But now it's all gone, I've lost it all. Now all I have is my weather beaten tent, my training in karate, and my friends.

I took one more glance at the star lit sky and then headed towards camp. I could see my friends, my crew, all working at the campsite. My good Australian pal Toby was messing with the fire while Webster was fixing my pocket organizer. I look over at Toby's plane the Avenger which stood not far from where Toby was sitting. I watched as it glimmered in the fire light for a sec and then proceeded towards the fire. I dropped the wood I was carrying near Toby's feat, he looked up at me. "Did you make sure they weren't wet?" he asked. I nodded.

Toby is our team's pilot. He uses the Avenger to take us to destinations that is crucial to our mission. He's the best pilot out of all of us and can use the warp engine better than anyone we know. We count on him a lot although he tends to go out and get drunk.

I warmed my wings by the fire for a sec and then headed towards Webster. He is trying his best to position a screw driver on a screw, but his nimble wings made it hard for him. If I could talk I would of suggested to use his beak, but I couldn't. "Don't worry Max, I will have this done soon, then you could talk again." He said jokingly. Indeed, life is hard as a mute. Luckily my organizer has a notepad feature to write with but it was broken on our last mission. "Maybe you can cut up some carrots to put in the soup I'm going to make later. Make sure you cut up some fish too, us penguins need our protein." suggested Webster in a busy kind of tone.

I nod and head for the tent that we keep our food supplies. I grab a knife and a cutting board and start cutting the carrots and fish meat. It didn't take long till the memories started coming back, of my father, of my sister, of what happened...

One bad thing about being a penguin is that we all got to leave some day. We stay with our parents till a certain age, then the forces of nature force us to leave our family forever. That happened to me to. I had to leave my family behind cause of my natural instinct. I never got a chance to say good bye to my sister. Years later my dad tracked me down and we lived together in the antarctic circle were he taught me what he dose best, karate.

Well one day my dad disappeared and it was said that he has been kidnapped by a evil being who hates the human race and wants it destroyed. Toby and Webster helped me go on a world wide adventure in search of my father only to find out that that the being that hates humans was my dad. I had to fight him for the safety of the world. After a long battle, I ended up winning and I was forced to leave him beat up and injured. I felt betrayed by my father and I feel that he feels betrayed by me.

I never let my friends know that I am in pain, that I am suffering, feeling bad about everything. I feel that I should end it all, just end it all right here right now. End my suffering for good. I move my hand to position the knife perfectly on my neck. After a long second I heard Webster's voice calling for me as his foot steps gets closer to the tent. I quickly put down the knife. Webster comes running in with a paper in his hand. He cries out "Max, I have a mission for you!"

Before long, I find myself flying the Avenger towards New Zealand. My mission is to go to the Moo Moo club in Oamaru, New Zealand. I'm supposed to land in Bushy Beach and find a penguin that knows their way around to help me find the club. Apon finding the club, I have to ask an old friend for a glass Macaw. Webster seems to have some important need for the item, so important that he declared failure not an option, so I better not let him down.

I thought this would be a piece of cake, but I soon learn apon landing in Bushy Beach that it was not ganna be a walk in the park. It turned out to be mating season and everyone was a bussle. I walked around Bushy Beach for hours only to get rejected by the girls who are too hyped up about having kids, and boys who are too hype up about having sex.

I was beginning to loose hope when I saw a female Yellow Eyed Penguin (penguin species only found in New Zealand) sitting quietly to herself with a frown on her face. She was so beautiful! I stood for a second just looking at the goddess that sits before me. I looked at how the spots of yellow melded into her black coat so perfectly, how her wonderful eyes matched her yellow feathers. I didn't understand what was happening that glorious moment. I had a sudden warm feeling inside, all the negativity of the past melted away and was replace by a image of her. It seemed like she could of grown a second pair of wings and flown off to heaven. Then it hit me, I was in love.

I stood there, stunned and overwhelmed with warmth. It took a while before I started to walk over there. I was choking up as I got closer and closer to the beautiful creature. When I was close enough, she looked up at me. "Hello, who are you?" She said. If I could speak, I wouldn't of been able to. I wave my wing and smiled nervously. "What's wrong cat got your toung?" She said in response to my silence. I opened my mouth and start pointing my wing at it. I put my wing around my neck. "Your mute?" I nod. She looks back on the ground.

I should of known, girls during mating season are looking for the strongest of the men. Being mute is considered a weakness. I felt rejected and start to walk off with a frown but then I stop. I remember my mission, then realize that she is the only one not busy. I walk back to her and signal for her attention. "What you want?" She said angrily. I take a stick and write out in the sand "I need your help". She looked at me oddly. "With what?" I write "take to Moo Moo Club". "You want my to take you to the Moo Moo Club?" She asked. I nod. She thinks a little bit and then says "OK, I'll take ya since I'm not getting anywhere here. Meet me in an hour where the town meets the beach."

After asking around for a while, I finally find the area she was talking about and there she was looking as beautiful as ever. I run up to her. She doesn't even smile for me. "OK, before I help you, you've got to tell me your name." I hesitate, then I take a stick and write in the dirt "Max". "Hello Max, my name is Melissa." Melissa, I'll treasure that name always. "Follow me, I know the way." After a few minutes of walking, I knew I've picked the right person for this mission. She definitely know where she was going. She knew every street, every turn, every seafood place imaginable in the town of Oamaru, and she showed that off while on the way by giving a description of each place.

Finally we make it to the underground diner "The Moo Moo Club." It was a cat diner for the ally cats in the area. I could see cow spots every where. "Must be a latest design" said Melissa looking around. We took a seat at a table with three chairs. The lights soon dim and spot lights light up the stage. A guy on a intercom speaks up as the spot lights go crazy trying to center on one spot on stage. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Miss Kathy!" And a cat named Kathy walks onto the stage in a red dress while singing and dancing to a Barlesk version of the Meow Mix theme.

Me and Kathy met while I was searching for my father. She was singing at a bar where Toby happen to be drunk at. She was able to give us hints later on in our adventure that led me to my father, we haven't seen her since. I see that her act hasn't changed much for she sang this song at the bar. I see Melissa wasn't impressed at all. She had an angry look on her face, the kind you have when you wish you didn't do something. Probably wondering why she brought me here.

Kathy must of seen me from stage cause she walked off stage and headed towards my direction when she was done singing. She sat at my table totally confusing Melissa. "Max, I haven't seen you in a while." Kathy said. "You know him?" Melissa asked. Kathy looked at Melissa. "Yes, we are close friends."

Then I remembered, I can't talk! How can I ask her about her glass macaw if I can't speak? I grabbed a fork and started wrapping on the table with it in Moris' Code hoping that Kathy would understand. "Why are you tapping on the table hun?" Kathy asked me. My tapping started to slow for that ment she didn't know Moris' Code. "He said 'I need your glass macaw'" Melissa said to Kathy. We were both stunned. I wrapped in moris' code "You know Moris' Code?". She replied with a yes.

Kathy who is lost for a sec, finally gets what's going on. "Oh, that glass macaw, I'll go get it hon." and she walks off. In a few minutes, she returns with the macaw in hand. She gives it to Max. "Becareful, try not to break it." With that, Max and Melissa says their good byes (or at least melissa dose) and they run off.

And now we are back on the road, except this time, I've found a new way of communication. Through Moris' code I told her about my friends and how we would go on adventures using the Avenger. After a while, we decided to take a break from walking and just sit it out for a while. We pulled up two crates and sat down. It was very dark now. The stars weren't so clear because we were in the city, but I could still see some of them. So we just sat there looking at the stars.

"I don't usually like looking at the stars," Melissa said, "they always remind me of my old family." I jumped at this for it sounded like me. "I tend to cry sometimes when I look at the stars, so painful to remember what is lost." This sounded way to familiar, this sounded like me. Now I know that I wasn't alone in this, I wasn't the only penguin emotionally attached to their family. "Well, the first step in recovery is admitting that you have a problem." Melissa said. She looked up into the night sky with a big smile on her face. She was right. I have friends to speak to. Why do I have to stay silent from them?

I heard a growl in the darkness to my right. Then I heard another one coming from my left. Then three rotwilers came out of hiding. They had us surrounded. Melissa clinged on to me with fear. I tap out "Melissa, hide somewhere I'll take care of these dogs" and I get in a fighting pose. The first dog leaps towards me. I duck and the dog over shoots me and I kick him in the stomach while he is crashing into the wall. The second tries to bite me but I kick him in the jaw sending him running off whimpering. I started to run from the third. After getting enough speed, I head towards a wall. When the timing was right I leaped up. My feat landed against the wall and I leaped again before gravity could take it's course. I leap over the dog and the dog crashes into a wall. Me and Melissa run off.

We finally make it to Bushy Beach. All the young couples are all curled up for the night sleeping. Melissa gives off a sigh. Max heads for the Avenger. "Wait, your leaving?" Melissa cries out. I nod sadly. I did what I came here to do, I have friends who need me, I can't stay. Melissa looks disappointed for a sec. Then she puts a smile on her face. "I know, I'll come with you!" I was a little surprised at this. I didn't know how to react to this, either leap for joy or get confused.

"I don't really like it here. I haven't made to many friends." She said, "I want to join your group." I perked up a bit at the thought. Me and her going on adventures together. It would be a dream come true! Now I could be with her all I want! I signaled Melissa to climb aboard. She smiled and did so. We took off.

Apon reaching camp, I believe everyone was surprised to find that we have a new member in our midst. Although they didn't know her, they trusted my judgment so they excepted her real fast. Webster had my organizer fixed and I was very happy. It's been a very good day. "Max, could you get fire wood?" Said Toby. I nod and walk off to get fire wood, but I stop along the way. I happen to gaze into the stars again, and the memories started flooding in. I thought "What's wrong with me? I thought I was recovered?" Then I remembered something Melissa said: "The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem." I knew what I had to do. I signal for Toby to come over. He runs over to me quickly. "What's the matter Max?" I look down at my organizer. I write in the words I want to say and give it to Toby. He reads it aloud. "My name is Max, and I have a problem."

The End