Christmas was now so very close! Karl peered out the window and squawked, "Maybe we should go outside a bit. The snow looks perfect for waddling!"
"Oh yes!" Gini said. "Let's go to the river. The frozen river must look amazing now."
They bundled up in warm gloves, scarves and everything else that would make a penguin feel fancy and cozy in the snow. Karl joked, "I hope I don't look like a snowball myself when we go outside!"
Down by the river, the world was sparkling. People strolled along, listening to a street musician singing Christmas Carols. Gini and Karl even slipped a few nuts to the squirrels when no one was looking. Karl whispered, "It's like giving a secret penguin handshake... but crunchier."
Soon they discovered a snow and ice sculpture competition. "We have to enter!" Karl declared, already waddling toward the snow.
They rolled big snowballs and tried to sculpt a Santa sitting on his sleigh with reindeer. But oops - Santa looked more like a lopsided snowman with a grumpy hat and the reindeer looked like... well... a very confused horse.
"Hmm," Gini said thoughtfully. "Maybe we need help. Or more magic penguin dust."
Just then, a boy approached. "Can I help?" he asked. Even though the contest rules said only two kids per sculpture, Gini and Karl agreed. Soon, a girl arrived with green branches to decorate the reindeer, and another child poured hot water over the sleigh. The snow melted a bit and then froze again, making the sleigh solid - like magical ice furniture!
More and more children joined, added some snow here or removed some snow there and soon the sculpture was truly beautiful. The reindeer actually looked like reindeer (with a tiny bit of penguin exaggeration), Santa was recognizable and every present was a perfect little snow cube. Karl proudly quipped, "I always knew penguins were good at heavy lifting... of snow cubes, at least!"
When it was time for the judges, guess what? They gave hot chocolate and cookies to all the children who had participated instead. The loudspeaker played Christmas Carols while parents snapped happy photos of the snow art. "We didn't win a trophy, but we won marshmallow happiness!" Karl said, munching on a cookie.
"Perhaps we should take a ride in one of those horse carriages," Mom Sara suggested.
In no time all four of them climbed aboard, wrapped under a warm blanket. They rode over the frozen river, past sparkling houses and up the mountain to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. Gini whispered, "It's like riding in Santa's sleigh... without the reindeer pooping in the snow!"
Just then the coachman turned around and waved. For a tiny moment they were sure that it really was Santa who was riding them along.
But then the moment was gone. Karl winked at Gini. "I knew it! That must be Santa pretending to be a coachman just to check if we're on the nice list."
As the carriage slowly returned home, Gini and Karl snuggled close, amazed at the Christmas magic all around them.
"And don't forget," Karl added, nibbling the last cookie, "penguins make excellent snow sculptors... as long as they don't eat the noses of the snow reindeer!"
"What a wonderful day," Gini said. "And we have even met Santa," she added dreamily.
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