Koala Calamity - Surf’s Up!

“Oops?” said Squirt. “This is more than just oops!”

“Ya reckon?” said Bro.

“Er, yes, I do, actually,” said Squirt. “If we’ve lost her we’re in trouble. Big trouble!”

“Ya reckon?” said Bro.

“Yes, I do reckon!” said Squirt. “She’s just a baby! She’s way too young to be wandering about all by herself! Anything could happen!”

“Ya reckon?” said Bro.

“Can you please stop saying that?” said Squirt. “It’s getting really annoying!”

“Ya reckon?” said Bro.

Squirt sighed. This wasn’t good. They were supposed to be showing some responsibility, whatever that was. “Mum and Dad are going to go bonkers when they find out!”

“If they find out,” said Dude.

Squirt looked at Dude for a moment. “You’re right!” he said.

Dude was surprised. “I am?”

“Yes,” said Squirt. “If Mum and Dad don’t find out, then they won’t go bonkers, will they?”

“So what are you saying?” said Bro.

“I’m saying we have to find her!” said Squirt impatiently. “And quickly!”

“Aw, you’re joking,” said Bro.

Squirt looked at his big brother in disbelief. Joking? He’d never been more serious in his life!

“How about we have another kip – and then find her?” said Bro.

“No! We have to find her now!” said Squirt. “It’s all your fault anyway!”

Bro was confused. “My fault? How d’ya work that out?”

“Easy,” said Squirt. “You’re the one who told her to go and climb the tallest tree she could find, just so you could get some more sleep!”

“The little feller’s right, mate,” said Dude. “You did.”

Bro shot Dude a look. “Whose side are you on?”

“I’m just saying, mate,” said Dude.

“Well, don’t, mate,” said Bro.

“Stop squabbling, you two!” said Squirt. “We’ve got to find her! Now!”

Dude and Bro looked at each other.

“He’s right again, mate,” said Dude.

Bro nodded. “I know he is, mate.”

Dude and Bro turned round again. But Squirt had disappeared down below.

“Let’s go,” said Dude, almost sounding urgent.

Bro sighed deeply. “Coming.”

Squirt was smaller than Dude and Bro. He was also much quicker at climbing down trees. By the time Dude and Bro got to the bottom, Squirt was scampering across the ground just as fast as his little legs could carry him.

“Stop!” yelled Bro.

“Totally!” yelled Dude.

Squirt stopped until Dude and Bro caught up with him.

“Where are you going?” panted Bro.

“To the highest tree!” said Squirt. “That’s where you told Squeak to go, remember!”

“Aw, yeah,” said Bro, remembering.

“You said, ‘Climb to the top of the tallest tree and get a leaf ’,” said Squirt.

“And then?” said Bro.

“‘Bring it back’,” replied Squirt.

“And then?” asked Bro.

“You said you’d think of something else,” said Squirt, beginning to get exasperated.

“I did?” said Bro.

Squirt sighed. “You did!”

“Heh-heh-heh,” chuckled Dude.

“What are you laughing at?” said Bro.

Dude thought for a moment. “I’ve got no idea, mate.”

Squirt looked up. From down on the ground all the trees in The Acacia Koala Sanctuary looked pretty tall to him, but which one was the tallest? It was hard to say. And then he saw it. One tree just a little bit higher than all the rest.