Gusts in the Gums - at the Creek - first story
By Michael Kendall
Pretty Penny Platypus, Waddling Wally Wombat and Lying Lionel Lizard all live by a country creek under the gum trees. The creek is a lovely place to live. There is a little waterfall and a pond to swim in. They all live on the same side of the creek. Wally lives higher up on the bank of the creek. Penny lives lower down by the water edge. Lionel lives in a small hollow log in the middle of the bank.
Lionel Lizard was walking along the path and found a small log had fallen across the creek the night before in a storm making a bridge. Lionel decides he can impress Penny and Wally by saying that he made the bridge out of this log. Little Lionel has his lollies with him and is munching one while thinking up his new lie.
Wally is wandering along the path as well looking for his breakfast as he is hungry as usual. Wally spots Lionel with his bag of lollies and is hopeful that Lionel may give him one of his lollies.
“Hello Lionel,” said Wally.
“Hello Wally,” said Lionel.
“What are you doing on such a lovely day?” asked Wally.
“Well,” says Lionel “I have made a bridge so we can cross the creek easily and go to the other side.”
“Very nice,” says Wally.
“Yes,” says Lionel boasting “I did a very good job didn’t I?
Look how I can cross the bridge easily to the other side.”
And Lionel scurried across the log as he was small and light.
“Oh dear!” thought Wally.
“Lionel, you have left your lollies lying on the ledge here on this side of the creek,” said Wally.
“Yes, so I have, if you bring the bag to me, I will give you a lolly,” said Lionel.
“Well, if it is safe,” said Wally.
“Sure it is safe, as I built the bridge strong,” said Lionel.
Wally decides to try to cross the bridge as he trusts Lionel to be telling the truth. Wally picked up the bag of lollies in his mouth and started to cross the bridge. Wally is much bigger than Lionel. Wally did not find the bridge to be as safe as Lionel had said. As Wally neared the middle of the log he found the log was beginning to wobble. Oh dear, he thought, I am not a very good swimmer.
Wally began to be frightened and the log wobbled even more. “Oh no!” screamed Wally as he began to fall into the water. Splash – Wally was wet in the water and unable to swim very well. Lionel looked shocked and began to worry about his lollies.
Wally began yelling “Help, please help me, I am drowning!”.
A little further up the creek, Pretty Penny Platypus was paddling playfully in the pond. Penny heard the cries of help from her friend. Penny jumped to the ready for Penny knew her friend Wally was a Wombat and could not swim very well. Penny swam down the creek towards Wally’s cries of help.
Lionel saw Penny coming to the rescue and thought, “Wonderful my lollies will be saved,”.
Penny quickly swam to Wally, water splashing everywhere. “I can help you Wally,” said Penny Platypus. Penny grabbed a long stick and gave it to Wally to hold onto. “I will pull you to the bank,” said Penny. Wonderful, thought Wally and he started to calm down. Wally soon realized that he was not sinking and that he was actually floating. Penny pulled and pulled. They soon reached the creek bank together and found safety on dry ground. Penny and Wally were puffed.
Little lying Lionel lizard, looked longingly for his lost lollies. “Oh dear I have lost my lollies,” said Lionel with sadness.
“Well serves you right Lionel Lizard for telling a lie,” said Wally.
Penny made tea and scones for her dear friend Wally while he told her the whole story.
Lionel went to bed early that night feeling hungry and sorry for himself.
Penny Platypus was dressed in pretty pink and Wally Wombat was warm in his woollen waistcoat. Wally thanked Penny for saving his life. Pretty Penny Platypus blushed pink proudly and said politely, “More scones Wally?”.
All images & content of this website © Michael Kendall 2011
