TAKING TO THE WATER
By Kathy Manchip

"I'm scared, Mom!" said Bhukuda. "What happens if I can't swim?"

"Don't worry dear," said his mom, giving Bhukuda a gentle nudge with her beak. "I'll be there to help you, and so will your dad. We'll both watch out for you."

But Bhukuda wasn't sure. His last fuzzy feathers had molted only yesterday, leaving his young body sleek and streamlined. He was proud of his pure white stomach with the few black spots, and his smooth back and flippers - but it meant he had to try swimming now and that was spoiling everything.

"I don't even walk very well!" he said. "Swimming is much harder! Can't I just try the water next week?"

Bhukuda's mom smiled. "It's different in the water," she said. "You'll see. Everything will be fine."

The young penguin poked at a piece of dried kelp with his beak. He preened his new adult feathers. He felt the heat of the African sun warm his back and tried not to think about swimming, but it was no use.

He looked over at the surf crashing on the beach. Some of the colony were heading out into the breakers. They waddled to the edge of the ocean, and the youngsters lost their balance as the surge of water hit them. Others ran at the waves to get to deep water as quickly as possible. Bhukuda thought they all looked awfully silly.

The young African penguin watched for a while. "Maybe," he thought, "if I go up close and watch some of the others getting into the sea, I'll be able to see how to do it. Maybe it'll make it a bit easier when I have to go in myself."

It seemed like a good idea, so, balancing with his flippers, Bhukuda waddled across the warm white sand towards the water.

As he got closer, a huge breaker came crashing down and a whole group of young penguins were knocked head-over-heels. Beaks, webbed feet and flippers flapped in all directions. Without even pausing, Bhukuda changed direction.

"I'll watch from up on the rocks," he decided. "The waves won't be able to get me up there."

At the crest of a boulder, Bhukuda peered down the far side. "Now that's more like it," he said.

The cluster of large rocks had created a small bay. It was deserted, which meant no other penguins around to watch and maybe laugh. But best of all, the waves were much smaller. Bhukuda skidded down the slope of the boulder towards the sliver of beach. He stood for a moment on the smooth sand, watching the rhythm of the waves. "Right," Bhukuda muttered, "I can do it." Shoulders hunched, the young penguin waddled towards the water's edge.

Shoooshhh, a wave rushed in. Bhukuda backed away quickly.

The wave slipped back into the ocean. Bhukuda shuffled forward a few steps.

Shushhh, another wave slid in, and Bhukuda backed away again.

Shoooshhh, a third wave glided up over the pale sand. Scrunching up his eyes with effort, Bhukuda held his ground. Cool water skimmed over his webbed toes. It tickled, and Bhukuda grinned and shuffled from foot to foot. The wave swept back, and Bhukuda gave a little hop of delight.

"I touched it!" he said. Somehow, it was much less scary to wait for the next wash of water to tickle his feet. After a few waves, Bhukuda even took a few steps further into the sea.

Shushhh, the water tickled his legs. Shooooshhh, it swirled around his tummy.

Whooooshhhh! A much bigger wave swept in, and the next thing Bhukuda knew, he had been knocked off his feet. He splashed and struggled as salt water rushed over his head. He flailed and kicked in panic, and suddenly felt himself swooping forward. Somehow, his flippers opened up like wings as his feet tucked in against his body. His chin lifted, his stubby tail angled to steer him away from a looming rock face, his body flexed and Bhukuda realized he was swimming!

It was blissful, exhilarating. Bhukuda dove and swooped, the cool water sliding over his body. Sea-urchins clicked at him from the ocean floor, and he slipped through curling strands of kelp. The young penguin bobbed to the surface at last, beaming and shaking his head until water droplets sparkled in the sunlight. "I did it!" he said. "I did it, I'm a swimmer!" Other penguins nearby smiled in understanding, and when they dove, he dove with them.

Bhukuda glided and barrel-rolled and watched the other penguins doing the same all around him. It's true, he thought as he arrowed at last toward the breakers at the shoreline. It is different in the water.

He didn't mind when the water tumbled him back onto dry land, he knew the ocean would be waiting when he returned. With a waddle and a strut, Bhukuda headed back up the beach to find his parents.