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“I am so glad we moved to the Bush, Papa. I can't wait
to go exploring and see a kangaroo,” Narelle said.
Papa winked at his daughter. “There are all sorts of
animals in the Bush, Narelle. Why don't you go for a walkabout and come
back and tell me what you saw.”
Narelle put on her hat and headed out of the door.
“Take care of the sheep, Papa.” She shut the door behind her.
“Don't wander too far. The Bush is vast. I don't want
you getting lost,” Papa said
“I won't.” Narelle skipped down the dirt road. She came
to a wide river where hundreds of flamingos stood on one leg. “What pretty
pink birds. I wonder if Papa will let me have my very own flamingo.” After
she watched them for a while, she walked down along the river bank.
“What's that? It looks like a crocodile. I hope it doesn't eat the
flamingos.” Narelle was relieved when the crocodile disappeared under the
water.
She headed away from the river. “I wonder what sort of
animals live up here.” A kangaroo came hopping past. “Oh look! A
kangaroo.” She ran after it and chased it until she could run no more.
“Wait for me,” she shouted at the kangaroo. “I want to play with you.”
It hopped away, leaving her stranded in the middle of
nowhere. “I wonder where I am and where our new house is.” She looked all
around her. “Papa! Papa!” She shouted loud, but there was no answer.
“I hope there aren't any snakes around here.” Narelle
walked towards the sun. She came to a bush. “What's this? It looks like a
peach tree.” She picked one of the fruits and bit into it. “I remember
now. These are called quandons. Papa told me about them.” She ate two more
and picked another six, stuffing them in her pockets.
On and on she walked. “I am going on a walkabout. I
hope I get home before the sun goes down.” But she didn't. In the darkness
she wandered. Something black and hairy ran in front of her. “What are
you? Are you a wombat?” The creature didn't stop, but ran on.
“There's a bush. Oh good. Desert raisins.” She picked a
handful. “Papa says these are called Bush tomatoes, but I like Desert
raisins better.” After gobbling a few, she sat on a large stone. “I think
I should sit right here and wait for Papa to find me. He'll be out looking
for me.”
She curled up on the stone and fell asleep. When she
woke up she heard a hissing sound. A brown snake sat just off to the side
of the stone. “It's a snake. I'll bet it's poisonous.” She saw that the
sun was coming up over the horizon. “I'm not waiting to find out.” Without
another moment's hesitation, she jumped off the stone and ran back the way
she'd come. She didn't stop running until she got to the river.
A dozen kangaroos hopped down to the water to get a
drink. “More kangaroos.” She looked up and saw a koala bear in the tree.
“Koala bears. A mama and baby. This must be a eucalyptus tree.”
“Narelle! Narelle!” Papa called to her and came
running.
“Papa! You found me.” She hugged him with both arms.
“I was worried sick. When I told you to go on a
walkabout, I meant in our back garden, not the entire bush. At least your
safe now. Did you see any Bush animals?” Papa took her hand.
“Oh yes, Papa. I saw kangaroos and koala bears. I saw a
brown snake, a wombat, flamingos and a crocodile.” Narelle beamed with a
smile.
“Why don't you come back to the house and you can play
with the sheep. I think the next time you go on a walkabout, I should come
with you.” Papa headed for home.
“I think so too, Papa.” Narelle squeezed her papa's
hand and followed him home. |
