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People hardly play games like they used, having abandoned their toys at such an early age.

(v. the second coming of penguins)

People can be good friends, too. Some of them are as kind as shadows. Like you, I hope. There are countless good people in the world, hiding in corners, covering themselves in the shadows. Sometimes friends appear out of nowhere, just when we need them most.

Just yesterday a man came to visit me. He said he had heard I was leaving the hospital, and wanted to wish me well. I’m not sure how he knows me, but perhaps the Doctor asked him to come. She is still worried about my leaving the hospital. The man seemed very sympathetic, and was greatly optimistic, too. He was always talking about a heavenly future. His speech was so hopeful, I wasn’t quite sure why his eyes sagged and his lips trembled so much.

He told me he knew about the second coming. I could only guess that he was talking about the penguins. So I listened attentively to all he had to say (although I admit I couldn’t understand it all).

v. the second coming of penguins
v. the second coming of penguins
It’s by the ocean, and at sunset...Whenever it may be, if ever it will be, we can expect to see the penguins.

It’s by the ocean, and at sunset. Someday in the future: your birthday maybe; your great-grandchild’s first kiss; the end of the world; the day people look again at the moon; the moment when love becomes more than just words; the year that ends with a fulfilled promise. Certainly it will happen one of these days, he said. Whenever it may be, if ever it will be, we can expect to see the penguins.

As you might guess, I was much relieved to hear this man’s speech. It seems that things can only get better from now. As I am leaving the hospital soon, this good news makes the moon seem even brighter.

There was one thing he said that I didn’t quite catch, though. Among all those positive beliefs he told me, there was one point I really couldn’t believe. The collared man talked a lot about judgment. However, none of that talk made any sense to me. What on earth could the penguins be judging? I wonder. People hardly play games like they used, having abandoned their toys at such an early age. In any case, I don’t know of any penguin games that require judges anyway.

So, Reader, I can only hope that this man is correct about the penguins coming. It excites me just to think of all the children looking up again at the sky. That day will mark the fine return of the world to the way things were. Maybe people might even start to remember again. And I have faith that you’ll be there to see for yourself, Reader. But please don’t be afraid: they won’t come with judgment. Penguins don’t judge. Really, they can’t even speak.

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