The Mysteries Of Corkuparipple Creek: Corkuparipple Creek Worlds Apart

by Susan Pease

  ‘Do you really think that people would sit up and take notice of Melissa? She is a lovely girl but her constant chatter turns people off.’

  Aunt Pepper put her hands on top of her head and did aching head gestures. Jo burst into laughter at the faces she was pulling. Looks like her Aunt Pepper hadn’t lost her sense of humour.

  ‘By the way Jo, it wasn’t your fault your mother died, so get that out of your head once and for all. She was emotionally drained long before you disappeared; she just managed to conceal it from you and Geoffrey. Her life was lonely and hard after your father died. Sometimes life and responsibilities that go along with it are unfair. We must battle on and not give up.’

  ‘I am sad that I wasn’t here for her when she died, maybe if we can fix the time we will have a second chance to help Mum. Do you think we can have my warm Scottish clothes washed and dry soon so I can wear them when we travel back, I look ridiculous in this outfit!’

  Aunt Pepper looked Jo up and down and laughed. She did look quite ridiculous. Maybe Jo did resemble a ragbag lady with one large green sock, one short yellow sock. Then there were the horrid faded jeans that had more holes than Swiss cheese and a fluffy pink top that was so short it hardly covered her belly button.

  ‘I guess the wind could turn your tummy blue.’

  Jo smiled as she remembered when Eiki had put her head in the toilet bowl and flushed, the toilet cleaner turned her a lovely shade of blue. Once again the thought of her friend made her unhappy; they had to work out a way to save her.

  ‘It’s all under control dear; mind you, I still have to work out how to get you back in time safely. The best thing I think is to find the Bunyip in the bush. Gerald is very good with time, and he has been around for hundreds of years.’

  ‘I thought Bunyips were only folklore, they don’t really exist do they?’

  ‘What did I just tell you; of course they do, otherwise how can I ask for their help?’

  Aunt Pepper had never snapped at her before so Jo guessed that her aunt was feeling overstretched. Either that or she had become a grumpy creature herself. I guess if you live long enough with them it rubs off.

  ‘Of course they exist! Would you have ever believed that there were Gulp-a-Waters and Slurp-it-Downs? And we all know that they exist. He has cleverly used the folklore to keep safe all these hundreds of years.’

  ‘How long do they live, I mean, you just said “hundreds of years”?’

  Jo was absolutely flabbergasted! She had heard about people in Peru living to one hundred plus, but hundreds of years was mind-boggling.

  ‘They say Bunyips can live for thousands of years and that when they die it’s only temporary as they are reborn to start a new cycle very soon after. They have great wisdom and they live and travel through time. He can also see all the destruction in the world and of course, the earth changes.’

  ‘If he is so smart why hasn’t he come out from hiding? He should teach the people of the world how to care for the planet. Surely they would gain from his wisdom as he is so old and has experienced so much?’

  ‘People are afraid of something that is different; they would probably want to catch and cage him instead of accepting the Bunyip for what he is. Have you noticed that the weather has changed? It’s dry, and very cold!’

  ‘Yes Aunt Pepper I did notice, is it winter?’

  ‘No my dear, it’s summer and we haven’t really had a warm season in many years. The earth changes have been dramatic, with small amounts of rainfall, if any at all. We are on restrictions on how much water we can use. The Corkuparipple Creek is nearly dry. We can hardly hear its trickling over the rocks. Most of the fish we rely on for food have disappeared and the turtles are starting to pack up their houses and walk. Somewhere there must be an abundance of water, we need to find it soon. We decided at the last meeting to move if things don’t improve. We are going to find a spring one day; I feel it in my bones. We have divined for water; unfortunately have had no luck so far.’

  ‘Maybe the Bunyip can help find water as well as teaching us to travel back in time,’ said Jo.

  Aunt Pepper was very wise but unfortunately she was starting to forget things.

  ‘I never even thought about calling on the Bunyip, looks like I really am an old fool. Years ago I would have thought of it straight away, now I forget all the possibilities we can look at.’

  Jo recognised that her aunt was inwardly becoming quite old. She looked terrific for her age; unfortunately her memory had started to fade. The breeze took up and crispy dried leaves rustled along the ground. They reminded Jo of tumbleweeds in an old western movie. It was cold yet dry, this was not the Australia she remembered. How could everybody over the last twenty years not do something about global earth changes? Were they all blind to the damage they were inflicting? Heaven help them if a solution could not be found soon, it’s a matter of taking charge and caring. Aunt Pepper arranged for a group of creatures to pack up provisions, as they were to embark on a trip into the bush.

  ‘Finding the Bunyip isn’t easy; he has such a funny temperament. One day he is jolly and everybody’s friend, the next he is secretive and hides away. I just hope we find him on one of his good days. I’ve known people who have had to wait weeks before he would come out to talk to them. I guess he observes to see what kind of person they are before approaching them.’

  ‘Do you mean we may have to wait weeks? I have to get back to Scotland to find Eiki! I haven’t got weeks to wait, this is very disturbing,’ said Jo glumly.

  The group packed up and set off through the tall vegetation and stately gums. They had been walking for hours calling out to the Bunyip. Hot, tired, fed up and grouchy, Jo sat down. The Corkuparipple Creek always seemed to be near. Jo was worried that they were walking in circles.

  ‘I need to put my feet into the cool water of the creek, the water always had a soothing effect when I was tired,’ said Jo quietly.

  Aunt Pepper smiled. She could so remember what it was like when she was young. The thought of Jo’s ankles aching made her think of her youth and how she would run through the bush for hours only to have the same problem. Jo took off her oversized boots; the flip-flopping as she walked didn’t help her feet or attitude. She managed to dangle her feet into the cool water and memories of her splashing in the creek flooded back. She could remember all the fun she had had when the Gulp-a-Waters and the Slurp-it-Downs first came into her life. Boy had things changed, her old friends were now parents and the creek was so low that it strained to skim over the pebbles at the bottom of the creek.

  It’s not the same, she thought.

  Her mother would say that things change and that there is no point trying to go back because it’s never the same.

  Except that ironically, she had to go back, back to where it all started. Time had been messed up and with that were consequences. It felt different and sadness echoed throughout the bush. The vegetation looked tired and unwell, the earth was crying out for help. Jo remembered all the lessons she had been taught by the gnomes named In and Sight. She had learnt so much as she had walked through the tunnels of knowledge. Jo wished all the people of the earth could hear their lessons.

  They continued their journey; Aunt Pepper was struggling, her determination to go on pushed her along.

  ‘Bunyip where are you? It’s Pepi. Please come out we need your help.’

  ‘Yes, do come out, we have lost Eiki in a time warp in Scotland. Please help us get her back home,’ yelled Jo.

  He just didn’t come, so everybody pitched his or her tents and gave up for the day. After a dinner of baked beans on toast, they retired for the night.

  ‘Don’t worry Jo, tomorrow is another day and we hopefully will find the Bunyip. You never know, he may find us first.’

  ‘That would be good then I wouldn’t have to walk around in these hobblers. They are driving me crazy and my feet are killing me!’

  ‘Well, at least you have something on your feet; the creatures have to e
ndure sharp rocks and prickly grass.’

  It was quiet; the only sound the chirping of the crickets and the songs of frogs in the creek. The mosquitoes were in fine form buzzing around Jo’s tent.

  ‘That’s the one thing I didn’t miss when I was away. These damn mossies drive me insane,’ complained Jo.

  Nobody was listening. All had fallen into a deep sleep. Hopefully tomorrow would bring some results. Meanwhile, not too far away, two familiar voices drifted through the bush.

  ‘Don’t you think we’ve gone too far? Dad said they weren’t going far,’ said the Gulp-a-Waters Jnr.

  ‘Your dad doesn’t know how far they were going because he isn’t as smart as my dad,’ answered the Slurp-it-Downs Jnr.

  ‘Don’t start that up, you know if our dads find out we’re sneaking after them, both of us will be in huge trouble,’ grumbled the Gulp-a-Waters.

  ‘Yes, but I want to see the Bunyip everybody talks about so it would be a good idea if you shut up and keep looking,’ said a crotchety Slurp-it-Downs.

  There was a large blasting sound and the Gulp-a-Waters looked at the Slurp-it-Downs in shock.

  ‘Did you fart at me? That’s disgusting!’

  ‘Don’t use that language and I didn’t fart at you, it came out of the bush.’

  ‘Well, you just used the fart word so don’t tell me what I can and cannot say. You’re the same age as me and not my mother.’

  ‘Yes, that may be so but I have a more mature brain than you do and that is a Slurp-it-Downs fact.’

  The Gulp-it-Downs rolled his eyes; he couldn’t argue with that. They dropped to the ground and immediately proceeded to shuffle on hands and feet, peeking through the bushes. Sitting on a huge log burping and farting, was the Bunyip. To describe his appearance would be quite difficult as everybody has their own opinion. Let’s say he was extremely unusual looking. He was stuffing his face with fish and chips.

  ‘Look! He’s got fish and chips, how lucky! I wonder if he would share them with us,’ said the annoying Gulp-a-Waters Jnr.

  ‘Don’t be stupid, I’m not going to let him see us, what if he decided to eat us for dessert?’ shivered his friend.

  ‘Well, I am going to take the risk. I’II make friends with him. I’ll be Dad’s hero. Your dad will have to admit that my dad and I are brilliant,’ announced the Gulp-a-Waters Jnr.

  ‘What are you going to use as an icebreaker? You just can’t walk up to him with nothing to say?’

  The Gulp-a-Waters looked bewildered. He thought for a while and then a slow smile came across his face.

  ‘I will tell him a joke, that’s what I’ll do,’ remarked the creature.

  ‘Firstly I will tell him my name and be very Gulp-a-Waters polite. I shall say I am Norris Gulp-a-Waters and this is my friend Thrip Slurp-it-Downs. Would you like to hear a joke? What do you think?’

  The Slurp-it-Downs scratched his head and answered him in a sarcastic manner.

  ‘Is that all you can think of, Norris Gulp-a-Waters? I guess it will have to do, I suppose everybody loves to hear jokes. What are you going to tell; I mean, is it a good joke?’

  ‘Of course it’s a good joke, my dad told me, you skinny duffer. What kind of sword is wet, slippery and hard to hold?’

  ‘I have no idea, that’s a hard one.’

  ‘You give up too easily, think about it for a while,’ said the Gulp-a-Waters.

  There was a rustling through the bush and a loud ‘SWORDFISH’ came bellowing out. The two creatures shook in fright as the Bunyip answered the joke, laughing and spraying fish and chips from his huge mouth. He was chuckling so much that the ground shook and the trees swayed.

  ‘How come you knew the answer so quickly? asked Norris shaking in his boots.

  ‘I invented that joke,’ laughed the Bunyip.

  ‘Don’t tell me he is like your dad and thinks he knows everything,’ whispered Thrip Slurp-it-Downs.

  The two creatures sat staring at the huge Bunyip. What were they going to do now?

  ‘Fee fo fum I smell the scent of two very naughty Gulp-a-Waters and Slurp-it-Downs.’

  ‘We’re not naughty,’ said the youngsters sheepishly.

  ‘Oh I suppose your parents let you wander through the bush at night.

  Did you know there are things that can eat you out here?’

  ‘Eat us! What would eat us? Anyhow, we are brave.’

  ‘Wild dingoes, snakes, not to mention enormous kangaroos.’

  ‘Australian kangaroos don’t eat Gulp-a-Waters and Slurp-it-Downs, you’re just trying to scare us.’

  ‘Well, maybe they don’t but what about large Bunyips? We might be tempted.’

  The two looked at each other and horror showed in their faces.

  ‘Don’t eat us Bunyip, we’re too tough.’

  He put his hand to his chin, rubbed it, then said, ‘I’d rather have fish and chips wrapped up in newspaper. Come and get it, you both look starving.’

  Norris and Thrip relaxed, their experience of meeting the huge Bunyip had been extremely tough and it was a relief to discover that he was really a good bloke. Fish and chips filled the naughty youngster’s tummies and for an extra treat, he had a jar of pickled onions.

  They sat around the fire and chatted for what seemed hours and as the light started arriving in the bush, they both fell fast asleep. The Bunyip was all knowing and a spiritual fellow and so he watched over the pair. He knew that something big was going to be asked of him. He sat and meditated, trying to get spiritual guidance.

  The morning was cold and the grass was crisp and glittering with a heavy frost. The two naughty friends were chilled to the bone. The fire had gone out and the Gulpa started coughing and looked quite unwell.

  ‘It looks like you’ve managed to catch a cold. Are you as good at catching fish?’ laughed the Bunyip.

  He produced a bottle of elderberry tonic and spooned a quantity and handed it to the youngster.

  ‘Is it safe and will it taste ok, I hate medicine?’

  ‘When I am going to poison you I will let you know. Of course it’s ok and it will fix your cough up quickly. You two little rascals seem to enjoy jokes so I have one you may like and it may make you feel better. Norris my friend, what can you give away but also keep?’

  The young creatures were excited to hear a new joke, but it was too hard for their young minds.

  ‘We are pretty smart but I think you have got us on this one,’ they said.

  ‘Well, you have to be very smart to work this one out; I don’t know if I will tell you the answer. Maybe you should think on it for a while.’

  The two looked at each other and a frown appeared on each of their faces. The Bunyip was teasing them again and they were starting to get annoyed. During breakfast the two explained how they had slipped out of the village to follow their dads. The Bunyip sat and listened with interest. The creatures held their noses as he farted and burped his way through breakfast.

  ‘If you think you’re out of trouble think again, what will happen when your mothers get their hands on you? They must be frantic not knowing where you are.’

  This was a problem, they had not thought about their mothers and there was going to be a big scene when they got home. The Bunyip was concerned; he needed to find the naughty creatures’ fathers.

  ‘Before we go I have something to say, so listen well. My rules are very strict; you need to do whatever I say without question, OKAY?’

  The two nodded and the journey to find the others began, it was going to be a long day. Unbeknown to the two little rascals, the Bunyip had sent a message with a magpie to their mothers. They were still trying to work out the Bunyip’s joke as they went along and it was so puzzling that they nearly gave up. Norris coughed and sneezed and drove Thrip crazy. Every now and then the Bunyip stopped and enquired if they had worked out the joke. Finally, after a very long time, Norris looked at the Bunyip. He looked extremely pleased with himself.

  ‘I have worked out the joke,’ announc
ed Norris.

  ‘You don’t know how to work it out because you are not as clever as my dad,’ said Thrip.

  ‘It’s got nothing to do with your dad, and my dad taught me how to work out things. The answer is simple and it relates to me. What can you give away, but also keep? The answer is a “cold” and that’s just what I have. If you don’t watch out I will give it to you, so there.’

  The Bunyip was delighted as it wasn’t an easy joke and the young creature had managed to work it out without any help. Maybe there was hope for the naughty creatures after all. Slate-coloured clouds could be seen overhead, poking through the tall gum branches. The wind howled and the creatures both held their noses as the Bunyip constantly burped and farted his way through the bush.

  ‘Better out than in,’ he would say.

  Eventually, they managed to see in the distance, the group.

  ‘Oh boy! I’m glad we have found them. I’m getting sick of the smell that comes along with the Bunyip. Who farts and burps all day, that’s what I’d like to know, it’s disgusting,’ whispered Thrip.

  ‘Sshh, don’t let him hear you, he will get mad, not everybody has been taught manners,’ commented Norris.

  ‘Well my dad is better than your dad at teaching manners’, snarled Thrip.

  ‘Rubbish, my dad is better than your dad at teaching manners and he isn’t as ugly as your dad,’ grumbled Norris.

  ‘You two! Knock it off, we’re about to face both your dads, got a good excuse to tell them yet?’ yelled the Bunyip.

  The two creatures knew what would happen when they found out their sons had snuck out of the village and wandered into the bush. To make matters worse, they hadn’t told their mothers where they were going.

  ‘Oh no, what will we say?’ exclaimed the two.

  ‘I think it would be good if you start with a joke,’ laughed the Bunyip.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Give Up Or Not

  Eiki was having trouble teaching the Mac creatures the gentle art of meditation. Their rough persona was driving her insane. Maybe it would be easier if she tried to travel herself to Jo. The plan she derived would enable her to be free of the annoying creatures. The holiday was turning into a nightmare and she missed Jo and her mum and dad terribly. These Scottish creatures were just stupid, stupid, and stupid not to mention annoying to a Slurp-it-Downs brilliant child.