Magic, Signs, and Symbols for Grieving Hearts
The Movie, “My Penguin Friend” and Laura’s Story about Penguins
Magic, Signs, and Symbols for Grieving Hearts
My Penguin Friend, and Laura’s Story
By Susan Fusco-Fazio
Heaven sends magic, signs, and symbols for the bereaved. It happened for a married couple in Brazil. The newly released film, My Penguin Friend, tells the story of an intelligent and empathetic penguin who travels over 5,000 miles twice a year to spend time with a Brazilian couple. The penguin splits up his time each year to live with his human family and his penguin family. My Penguin Friend is based on the riveting true story of an aging fisherman João Pereira De Souza, who found a young lone penguin stranded in the water of a beach near Rio de Janeiro. The penguin was caught in an oil spill and the fisherman immediately pulled him out to safety, washed, fed and cared for him, essentially saving his life.
At the beginning of the film, we meet the Brazilian family, a young couple and only child, a son. Their life is full of love and community on the shores of Brazil. From the very beginning of the film a feeling of dread came over me; that they were too happy and that something terrible was going to happen. Soon after, the couple endures a terrible tragedy and their son dies.
The movie immediately fasts forward to many years later to an aged fisherman and his wife, living a sub-ordinary pared down life. As deeply bereaved parents they went through the motions and lived a habitual and monotonous day to day life. The husband João went out to fish each day to make a living while his wife continued to keep house, shop for food, and prepare the meals.
It’s a lonely and predictable life for the couple whose common bond is their unspoken grief. It’s a bare bones survival story for them until one day when the magic happens. A lone penguin appears out of nowhere covered in oil from an ocean oil slick. The man’s paternal instincts kick in and in an instant he is given a second chance to love and to care for a living being who appears to need him. I will tell you no more. Go see the film.
Why was the film, My Penguin Friend, so significant for me?
The couple lost their only child. I lost an only child. The couple was given a second chance at nurturing and love. The movie also reminded me of how magic, signs, symbols and heaven sent divine intervention can appear in our lives. The secret is to be open to them and to let your heart guide you, and tell you when to act. As I sat in wonder and watched this beautiful story on film unfold, my ever grieving heart felt a bit lighter, my outlook a bit more hopeful. I floated out of the theatre with good feelings and more hope, faith, and a reinstated belief in magic and miracles.
The day after I viewed My Penguin Friend, I was sorting through some boxes and I came across a story that our daughter Laura wrote in one of her many writing notebooks. I opened it, flipped through it, and one page in particular caught my eye. It was the title page for a story she wrote, Popcorn for the Penguins. Below the title was a blank space (possibly for an illustration to be put there later). At the bottom of the page it said, Written and Illustrated by Laura Fazio with the Help of Susan Fazio. I got goosebumps!
I didn’t recall ever seeing this story and it seemed like it was divine intervention that drew me to find it the day after seeing the penguin movie. I knew it was no coincidence. It was magical. I knew it was a sign from Laura, and a symbol of our love and life together. Laura wanted me to see her story, read her story, and share her story. This is a story I had forgotten existed and had not read in over two decades. As I settled into a comfortable chair to read Laura’s story, I felt her presence. It took me back in time, to when she was alive, to when she would have shared it with me. My heart warmed and softened with feelings of our mutual love. As I read, I was charmed by Laura’s writing, laughed at the humor, and felt so much pride in my creative and talented daughter.
Here is Laura’s story. It is written just as she wrote it in her journal. I only corrected some of the spelling. The format is exactly how she presented it. Enjoy!
Popcorn for the Penguins
Written and Illustrated by Laura Fazio with the help of Susan Fazio
Table of Contents
Ch. 1. - Jimmy ✓
Ch. 2. - Pop Corn ✓
Ch. 3. - The First Penguin ✓
Ch. 4. - 25 Pennies ✓
Ch. 5. - Hope ✓
Ch. 6. - 12 Penguins ✓
Ch. 7. - The Popcorn Popper ✓
Ch. 8 - Jimmy’s Fever
Ch. 9 - Overflow of Popcorn
Ch. 10 - Felicity
Summary:
12 year old Felicity is very poor and living with Mama and her sick younger brother in a shack. When she decides to take a job at the Popcorn Store everything is normal at first. One day in March a penguin comes to the store. Everyday from then on every customer seems to be a penguin!
Characters
Felicity - A poor girl with no money
Mr. Hershey - Store owner
Penguins - Customers
Mama - Felicity’s Mother
Jimmy - Little brother of Felicity
Popcorn for the Penguins
Written and Illustrated by Laura Fazio with the help of Susan Fazio
Chapter 1 - Jimmy
Jimmy was ill. Felicity knew he was ill because his head was hot, his nose was cold, and his body was sore. She also knew because he spent all of his days in bed. Mama was worried about Jimmy, her youngest son and only son. She was worried that she could not pay for a doctor. She only had a bit of money which was mostly spent on this shack they lived in. Felicity knew they needed money. She knew her brother would die without it. Maybe she could get a job. Mr. Hershey needed someone at his Popcorn Store to help out. Maybe she could work there.
That next day Felicity headed to the shop. She walked in with her boots and long brown dress. She walked into the shop and curtsied before she spoke.
“Morning Mr. Hershey.” Mr Hershey smiled.
“Oh my dear, what can I get you?” Mr. Hershey beamed.
“ I was wondering if I could get a job here,” Felicity said.
“ Oh yes my dear. Perhaps you can serve the popcorn,” he said.
“ I’d love that very much,” she said.
Chapter 2 - Popcorn
Mama was glad to hear that Felicity got work. She was glad to know that maybe, if there was any luck at all, they could take Jimmy to the doctors. Felicity hurried to the Popcorn Shop that morning and started to serve the popcorn.
“One cup for 7 pennies,” said a lady.
Felicity handed her the cup as she counted the pennies in her hands and left. Mr. Hershey smiled as she left. “See you tomorrow!” He called to the door.
She went back behind the counter and waited for the next customer.
Chapter 3 - The First Penguin
The shop was quiet for a while. Very quiet. Felicity sat and thought of Jimmy being able to walk again and being happy. If only they could be happy again. As she thought, she heard the door of the shop creak. She stood up straight and put a smile on her face that was obviously fake. She saw something black and white walk in the door with a little white. She looked, and there was a penguin! Felicity blinked. She had to be seeing things. The penguin walked up to the counter and put down 25¢. Felicity blinked. The penguin blinked. Felicity looked at the sign. 25¢=half a pound of popcorn.Felicity quickly got the order together.
The penguin took his popcorn and waddled away. Felicity stood there for a long while staring into space. Had she dreamt a dream? Would anyone believe her? Was she going mad? She sat down while thinking.
Chapter 4 - Twenty-five Pennies
Felicity awoke early at sunrise that morning. She knew she could stay in bed another hour till she was needed at work but she woke up. She went into her dresser and opened up her little box where she stored her money. She counted it out to find she had 32¢. She smiled for a minute then put the money away with a frown. They needed much, much, much more than that to help Jimmy. She hurried to get dressed. Then her mother served her some cornbread.
“Morning honey,” her Mom said .
“ Morning,” said Felicity
After breakfast felicity scooted to the Popcorn Shop. Mr. Hershey was there serving something that looked black and white. Felicity crept closer. Was it? Could it be? The penguin again?
“Haaahahahaha!” Mr. Hershey chuckled.
The strange penguin took the nuts and put 2 dimes on the counter and left.
Mr. Hershey chuckled and looked over at the door, noticing Felicity’s presence. He straightened up some, coughing a bit.
“ Morning Felicity,” he said grinning.
“ Morning Mr. Hershey,” she said. Felicity got behind the counter.
“Make two batches of popcorn, one with butter and salt, one just with salt,” Mr. Hershey ordered.
Felicity hurried to the kitchen section of the store. She grabbed a pan and dumbed the kernels inside. Making popcorn reminded her of Papa. Papa would always make popcorn when he owned a popcorn store of his own. Papa was always so kind to the customers. He would bow and tip his hat. Then he would say, “Good Morning Mrs. Corners, or “How can I help you Mr Standzer?” Papa was a kind man. But he was taken from their family by the Nazi’s. Felicity missed Papa. Felicity hated herself for letting them take him from her and Mama and Jimmy. She always would think of Papa. Sometimes she thought she could hear him. As Felicity ground the corn kernels and popped them she felt a tear fall down her face. Why did life have to be so hard?
She finished making the popcorn and walked back to the counter. There she found Mr. Hershey with another customer, a penguin. She grinned and began to put the popcorn in the bowl to put over the fire.
Review Questions:
___________________________________________________________________________
What do you think of the book so far?
What time period is it in? How do we know?
What happened to Papa?
Who is Jimmy? What is wrong with him?
Why does Felicity work for Mr. Hershey?
What is Felicity going to use her money for?
Read on:
____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 5 - Hope
At home Mama made cornbread for supper. Felicity helped as she told Mama about the penguins.
“You sure ?” Mama laughed.
“Yes, Mama,” and Mr. Hershey served one too.
“ Really?” Jimmy asked, overhearing from his bed.
“Yes, Yes!!” Felicity laughed. She kneaded the soft dough in her hands and thought of Papa and the penguins.
“I miss Papa,” she said suddenly.
“So do I,” said Mama.
“Someday if he’s alive we’ll see him again,” said Felicity, trying not to cry.
At the Popcorn Shop that day Felicity had 3 Penguins at once to serve.
“Here are your kernels, and here is your popcorn,” she said.
The penguins each put a quarter down on the counter. She thanked them and hurried to count her money.
32¢
25¢
25¢
+ 25¢
$ 1.17
“$1.17!” Felicity said aloud. It was wonderful. Her heart beat with hope. Soon there would be enough to help Jimmy.
Chapter 6 - Twelve Penguins
The day that the 12 penguins arrived at our shop was the day that Jimmy felt better. Felicity had woken up too late! She had overslept, She hurried to get dressed and rushed down stairs to my great joy, Jimmy was sitting at the table eating chicken broth. She ran over to Mama and hugged her.
By the time Felicity got to work she was so late and thought she’d be fired. She ran in the store. Mr. Hershey did not look mad. Instead he looked happy.
“Felicity,” he chuckled. “We just had 12 penguins in my shop! 12! They all bought stuff and one even ordered the $2.00 popcorn machine.”
“Wonderful! My brother was doing better today,” Felicity said while laughing.
Chapter 7 - The Popcorn Popper
A little later that week a penguin walked into the store.
“ Can I help you?” Felicity asked.
“ Um, I’m looking for my popcorn popper,” he said .
“ Oh yes,” she said, “Mr. Hershey had told me he would be coming in later, but he left it out.”
Felicity handed it to him. He handed her $2.00. She had never seen two $1.00 bills.
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Note: Laura never finished this story. She had three chapters left that were listed in her table of contents. I do not know why she never finished it. Maybe she had to go to the hospital for an emergency or else she simply chose not to finish it or forgot to finish it. I can’t ask her and so I’ll never know.
If Laura intended to not finish the story, she may have added questions to prompt the reader to finish her story.
Laura may have asked:
How would you continue this story?
How will you end the story?
Please write the last three chapters of Popcorn for the Penguins.
Add the words, THE END at the end of the story. (Laura always did this)
The unfinished chapters:
Ch. 8 - Jimmy’s Fever
Ch. 9 - Overflow of Popcorn
Ch. 10 - Felicity
Please consider writing an ending to the story. It can be just a few lines or a few sentences for each chapter.
I will always be in awe of Laura, a true writer who wrote almost every day. Laura wrote about her life, her heart condition, her strokes, and her hospitalizations. She also wrote many fiction stories.
Laura was a prolific writer and may have had more than one story going on at the same time, like a real writer. Laura planned to be a published writer and a singer when she grew up. Unfortunately Laura's story, Popcorn for the Penguins, remains unfinished, just like Laura's life remains unfinished.
Thank you for reading Laura’s story and for participating in the interactive ending activity or answering Laura’s review questions. Perhaps you want to share your ending to the story in the comments section or email me privately at:susanffartwork@gmail.com
Note:. I saved all of her stories and will soon be organizing them. Some will be included in the memoir I am writing about Laura’s life.
Please consider clicking the heart icon, and commenting on this post. I sincerely appreciate any feedback.
Thank you for reading!
With great appreciation,
Susan (Laura’s Mother)
Click link to Learn more about My Penguin Friend, https://www.militarypress.com/the-true-story-of-my-penguin-friend
Susan, this is so precious and the synchronicity of the penguins definitely feels like a sign. I imagine that she'd have enough money to help her brother but also that the penguins had a magical cure. So instead of having to go to the hospital, her brother is cured. Then they have enough money to go to a carnival and have a beautiful day. ❤️
She was a very creative writer, and I'm happy but not surprised you were given what I've been calling a Godwink, as a message of love. I peruse through substack when I want to take a break from my remote work, and your story, perhaps because somebody who follows me had liked it, I don't know, but it was in my feed. I get Godwinks all of the time, and I agree 100% that a person has to be open to receiving them. They are there and so appreciated. I'm so sorry for your loss.