In the middle of the Arctic Zoo—where the air sparkled and the snow never melted—lived Boris the Polar Bear Cub.
Boris loved sliding on his belly, rolling snowballs, and eating fish popsicles. But lately, he was bored.
“I’ve already played snow tag with the seals,” he sighed. “Even the walruses are tired of my jokes.”
Just then, the zookeeper appeared with a small crate. Inside was a round, fuzzy penguin chick blinking up at the world.
“This is Penny,” said the zookeeper. “She’s visiting from the South Pole!”
Boris gasped. “A penguin? But penguins don’t live up here!”
Penny waddled out and chirped proudly, “Well, I do now! Nice snow pile you’ve got!” Boris grinned. “Thanks! Want to play?”
Penny nodded. “Do penguins slide?” Boris chuckled. “We invented sliding!”
Slip, Slide, and Splash!
The two new friends headed straight for the ice hill, the zoo’s biggest slide.
“Race you to the bottom!” shouted Boris, diving face-first. “Wait for me!” squeaked Penny, flapping her tiny wings.
They zoomed down together, spinning and giggling. Boris tumbled like a snowball, while Penny zipped like a tiny torpedo.
At the bottom—SPLASH!—they landed right in the penguin pool! Penny popped up, feathers soaked. “That was… awesome!”
Boris snorted a laugh. “You look like a fluffy snowball with eyes!”
They spent the rest of the morning slipping, sliding, and splashing until the sun peeked over the ice domes.
“Best. Day. Ever,” said Penny, shivering happily. Boris nodded. “You might be small, but you slide like a champion.”
The Great Snowball Mix-Up
The next day, Boris had an idea. “Let’s build a snow fort!” Penny squealed. “And have a snowball fight!”
They worked hard, piling snow high. Penny made perfect little snowballs while Boris rolled giant ones that looked like frozen boulders.
“Ready, set, throw!” yelled Boris. Snowballs flew everywhere—tiny ones from Penny, big ones from Boris.
“Ha! Missed me!” said Penny, ducking behind the fort.
But when she peeked out—THUMP!—one of Boris’s giant snowballs rolled over and trapped her flippers!
“Help! I’m a penguin burrito!” she giggled.
Boris rushed over, laughing so hard he fell face-first into the snow. After freeing her, they both burst out laughing.
“Next time,” said Penny, “we make smaller snowballs.” Boris nodded. “Or I’ll just throw the ones you make!”
Friends from Opposite Poles
As days passed, the Arctic Zoo was filled with laughter.
Penny taught Boris how to waddle without tripping, and Boris taught Penny how to belly slide like a pro.
When visitors came, they couldn’t help but smile at the sight of a tiny penguin riding on a polar bear’s back like a snowy superhero duo.
One evening, as the northern lights painted the sky, Penny sighed happily.
“You know, Boris, back home it’s warm and full of penguins. But here—it’s even better.”
“Because of the snow?” asked Boris. Penny smiled. “Because of you.” Boris grinned. “Then you’ll always have a snow buddy up north.”
And as the lights shimmered above them, the penguin from the South Pole and the bear from the North learned that friendship could melt even the coldest ice.
The End !
