(birds twittering)
(narrator) It was nearly autumn morning,
just as the leaves were beginning to fall,
when an unexpected visitor arrived
at the little town by the sea,
and with him began a remarkable story.
Elsewhere on this particular morning
a small boy was getting up
in much the same way that he always did,
(yawning)
looking forward to his normal routine, in his usual way.
(gulls squawking)
But today was going to be anything but ordinary.
(man speaking on radio)
(doorbell buzzing)
Now first impressions are a funny thing
and it's always wise to take a moment to consider this
when something new turns up on your doorstep.
(distant gulls squawking)
To the boy this all seemed a bit worrisome.
(doorbell buzzing)
And yet he was not the sort of person to ignore someone
who might need his help.
And in any case his curiosity tended to get the better of him.
And this was so very curious.
And even so, an uninvited guest
could be a difficult situation at the best of times,
especially when some visitors just don't know
that they've already outstayed their welcome.
(penguin chirping)
And so in a tricky situation
it's best to follow all the correct procedures.
In this case there was really only one thing to do.
(penguin chirping)
But it was a problem that would not be solved so easily.
(doorbell tinkling)
(door creaking)
(buzzer buzzing)
(radio playing)
(buzzer buzzing)
(boy speaking)
(buzzer buzzing)
(mice squeaking)
(cat meowing)
Now, anyone could be forgiven
when faced with such an uninvited problem
for choosing the easy way out.
(cat meowing)
(penguin chirping)
(doorbell buzzing)
Then again some people just don't have it in them
to do anything other than the right thing.
(cat meowing)
(penguin excitedly squawking)
As the day unfolded the small boy began to realize
that helping this stranger find the way home
was a bigger problem than he had first thought.
And all this distraction was getting them nowhere,
and so the boy decided that some proper thinking was called for.
Whoa!
(books thudding)
(penguin chirping)
(gulls squawking)
So much for the best-laid plans
as too often a small voice is not heard in a wider world.
Yet, when things aren't going quite the way they should,
it occurs to some that if something is worth doing
it's worth doing yourself.
(hammering)
A boat is a wondrous thing.
It carries with it all of the possibilities
you can think of in this world,
and with a little planning and a little daring
you can imagine all kinds of grand adventures.
And so the boy worked out an ambitious plan
to get his visitor back where he belonged.
But he never stopped to consider for a moment
just what his visitor was doing there in the first place.
(squeak)
Late into the night the small boy slept fitfully
for tomorrow he was going to try to cross the ocean
to the other side of the world.
(gulls squawking)
Another beautiful morning
and all the preparations were in place.
And for those who cared to look
the little boat could be seen setting out
on a tremendous and uncertain journey.
(gulls squawking)
(porpoise calling)
(radio playing music)
The day gave way to night,
and just as things seemed to be working out well
(thunder rumbling)
they began to take a turn for the worse.
(rain pattering)
The very long way from shore,
the small boat and both on board
were about to find out just what the sea could do.
(waves crashing)
(gasping)
(squeaking)
And there it flickered:
The South Pole.
Finally the boy's work was done.
His task was complete.
(penguins chirping)
(chirping)
It's harder than you think
to say goodbye to someone who's become part of your life,
especially when you haven't noticed it happening.
And so this particular farewell
was much harder than the boy imagined it would be,
for although a parting is always sad
an awkward one is even more so.
But you do what you have to do and just get on with things.
(radio playing)
Suddenly the boy understood
that perhaps someone wasn't lost
but really just lonely
and maybe they weren't the only one.
(chirping)
(penguins chirping)
(gulls squawking)
So, all began with someone lost and someone found.
Who is to say which was which?
There was a boy and there was a penguin,
strangers from opposite sides of the ocean.
And like the beginning of any friendship,
theirs is a remarkable story indeed.