Car trouble

On a beautiful summer day Pat the penguin was driving his car. Suddenly there was a loud bang from the engine department and the car died. It was towed to a nearby repair shop ran by Pete the polar bear. Pete told Pat to be back in an hour or so to hear the diagnosis.

Pat decided to take a stroll to kill the time. He admired the scenery and enjoyed the hot sun on his feathers. After some time Pat came to an ice cream stand and decided to have a cone of vanilla ice cream, his favorite. Pat proceeded to consume the icy treat with ravenous abandon. Quite on purpose, Pat smeared it on his beak and feathers, reveling in the exquisite taste and the cool soothing caress. Onlookers viewed Pat with a mix of alarm and distaste. "Surely an adult penguin ought to know his limits," they would say, or "there's another one headed for an early grave."

After several cones of vanilla ice cream the salesman refused to sell Pat any more and with unsure steps he started for the repair shop. Pat felt sick, his head was spinning and he saw everything double. Pat kept throwing up as he walked. His front was painted white with goo and thick strands of phlegm hung from his beak when he finally reached the shop.

Pete the polar bear was hunched over the engine room of Pat's car, steady hands working with slow deliberation. Pete turned his head to the doorway and saw the penguin standing there. He fixed his gaze on Pat, squinted for a while and, with a low growl, said: "Looks like you blew a seal."