Wednesday:
The next day Skipper seemed to be himself again. This made everyone elated that day. Even though, the sky was dark the H.Q. was lit up with good moods like a candle lit by a small flame. Skipper left the habitat by himself frequently that morning. None of his team knew where he was going, but he had a plan. He had never given up before and he wasn't going to start with Marlene. He had to show her how he felt by giving her what she dreamed about. After all, that was his advantage over Antonio, he had known Marlene longer. It took him a while to get everything ready.

"Skippah, what are you doing?" Private asked.

"Telling Marlene how I feel." Skipper said triumphily. Private smiled and waddled to entertain the people. Skipper went through his list, again and again to make sure he had everything. There was one thing he was sure of: he was going to make things right.

That evening, while Antonio took Marlene on a stroll. Skipper set up a picnic for Marlene. It was perfect! On a plate were freshly oysters that he had caught himself that day arranged to spell out the name 'Marlene.' Not a single mollusk was out of place. To light the romantic atmosphere there were candles. Skipper almost forgot, he pulled out a Spanish gutiar, which had taught himself to play a song that day in the few hours he had free from his preparations. His team watched from a distance seceretly.

"I hope Marlene likes it. After how much he put into it. Do you think Antonio will get agitated that Skippah did this?" Private asked.

"That's why we're here, Private. We're here to support him." Kowalski said.

Suddenly, Skipper rushed back to the H.Q. He had left the rose! He found it on the table dead. He seized it in his flipper.

"Great, what else could go wrong?" Skipper growled gruffily and raced out of the H.Q. He exitted the H.Q. to meet the rain pouring down heavily, but worse he saw Marlene and Antonio back from their walk. He sprinted forward, but he was too late.

"Oh, my gosh! Did you set this up?" Marlene asked breathlessly.

"Who else? There's been something I've been wanting to ask you." Antonio said.

"What?"

"Will you go to the dance with me?"

"Of course!"

Skipper dropped the rose, and watched Marlene and Antonio motionlessly. Marlene kissed Antonio on the lips. Right when this happened, Antonio sneered at Skipper. Lifting up the blanket, Antonio covered Marlene as they both carried the picnic inside the habitat. The sorrowful soldier stood alone in the rain. His hope was like the once beautiful, ripe rose, pure without any second thoughts.
Now his heart was withered up and damp in tears. The rose soon drifted to the bottom of the puddle, where he left it and headed to the H.Q. His hope and broken heart drifted to the bottom of his puddle.

His team got home before he did. Skipper went directly to bed even though he was cold and wet. The rest of the team did the same.

It was the next day, when the next meeting took place. The penguins stood next to the lemurs. The two otters raced up to them in excitement.

"Guys, guess what!" Marlene bursted out.

"What is it, Marlene?"

"We're going to the dance together!" Marlene exclaimed joyfully, gesturing to Antonio and herself.

"Marlene, can I talk to you for a second." Skipper said solemnly. Antonio stepped between Skipper and Marlene.

"What are you going to say to her that you can't say to my face!?"

"You want to know."

"Why, yes I would." Antonio said confidently.

"Well, let's see here .... he's going too fast, he's doesn't deserve you, and he's up to no good." Skipper remarked infuriatedly. Antonio put up a fist, but Marlene grasped his thick arm.

"Fighting isn't going to solve anything! Just let me talk to Skipper." Marlene said sternly. She took Skipper's flipper and trudged outside.

"What's your problem!? All he did was ask what you were going to say. You just had to make that comment."

"Well, I wasn't lying, at least!" Skipper snarled agiatedly.

"What do you mean 'I' wasn't lying at least?"

"Marlene, he ... wasn't the one wrote you that note!" Skipper sheepishly explained.

"Then, who did?"

"I did, Marlene."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did."

"You just want me because you can't have me! Even if that's not what it is, I couldn't wait forever, Skipper!"

"For you, I'll wait forever and even more." Skipper waddled away. Marlene made her way home when she stepped on something.

"Ouch!" Marlene yelped as she looked down at her foot. Underneath was a dead soggy rose. A thorn stuck into her foot. When she picked it up she found a black feather jammed into another spike.