by J Sevil
With her Mom relaxing under the tree, Lauren and her Dad unpacked the car. Then they both pitched the two tents while Mom started on the furniture.
“This will make a wonderful place to have dinner,” she said.
“Mom, we’re camping. We don’t have dinner, we have grub!” and they all laughed. Coco laughed too, then covered his mouth with a paw. Dad looked at Coco strangely, then shook his head.
“There might be a shower tonight, so make sure the tent roofs are tight as a drum,” Dad said. He walked around both tents pulling on each rope to make sure they were tight.
“Do we really have to sleep on the ground?” her Mom asked, squinting.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Lauren said and gave her a smile. “Coco can show us how. Eh boy?” And Coco barked making them all laugh.
Soon the camp site was ready and Dad told everyone to grab their water bottles.
“Let’s follow the river downstream,” said Dad “And see what we find.” They all agreed. Coco ran out front sniffing and jumping over the grasses. At one time Coco ran back and whispered to Lauren.
“Oh, boy. Isn’t this great!” Then covered his mouth and looked around to see if anyone heard. Dad was close but he did not seem to notice. The track was narrow and winding. At many points each had to push through tall grass and bushes. Then there were times when the grasses gave way to a long stretch where they could see along the valley. They followed the river until it became a waterfall.
“This is just beautiful,” said Mom and then she took some pictures with her camera. Coco peered over the edge of the waterfall nervously. The drop was very steep and long.
“Scary,” Coco said, this time so close Dad could hear.
“That’s a strange noise for a dog,” he said. “Let’s have a look at your throat.” Dad knelt down and held Coco’s mouth open and peered down his throat.
“Not red. Breath’s not smelly. Well not too smelly, anyway.” Then he used his fingers and gently felt along Coco’s neck.
“What are you doing, Dad?” Lauren asked, concerned Coco might be about to say something if he got hurt.
“Well, he made a funny sound. I’m checking to see if he’s got something stuck in his throat.” He closed one eye and peered with the other into one of Coco’s eyes, frightening Coco.
“Now, you’re not a vet, Dad. Let poor Coco go. He’s fine.” Dad got up and put his hands on his hips.
“Well, alright, but keep an eye on him. He doesn’t sound right.” And he walked off to look down the waterfall. Coco hung his head, not ready to say anything to Lauren just yet. Lauren stroked his fur and nodded.
“I know, you feel bad. It’s OK. We have to be really careful not to let anyone know.” Coco nodded again and licked her cheek.
“OK, guys. Back to camp and let’s get ready for the evening.” And they took one last drink of water and headed back upstream. As they trudged back along the river bank, Lauren saw, up on a hill a flash of lightning strike the ground.
“Got to watch out for that,” said Dad. “That’s how bush fires start. With lightning.” Lauren and Coco looked at each other nervously. Then finally Coco whispered.
“Do you think that was a leprechaun?”
“I don’t know,” said Lauren. “I guess lightning strikes happen all the time in the bush. And how would they know we are all the way out here?”
“But if it is a leprechaun, we have no protection. We’re in the bush. And we didn’t bring any beetroot,” Coco whispered nervously and Lauren nodded. They both walked along concerned.
“Cheer up you two,” said Dad. “There’ll be no bush fires tonight. Like I said, it might rain.” And then as a way to keep the atmosphere cheery, Dad joked and sang silly songs.
--
High up on the mountain a tree stood with black markings and faint smoke from the lightening strike. At its base stood a short, stumpy leprechaun. He had a grey beard and a permanent snarl for a smile.
“Be gorren, be smlorren, be getting me sporren. Watch out little flea bus. I’m a comin’.” And as darkness began to fall he started trudging his short legs down the deep valley toward the river .
--
Mom served up their dinner just before dark. They were all so hungry they ate it quickly without talking. Even Coco licked his bowl until it was shiny. Then Mom made them all hot chocolate and they sat around the fire drinking it.
“How was your dinner, I mean grub, Lauren?” Lauren laughed and said “It was good, Mom. You rustle up good tucker.” Mom laughed but was sure she did not know what Lauren had just said.
“Listen up guys. I want to tell you a story.” Dad put down his hot chocolate and became very serious.
“Many years ago,” her Dad began. His eyes were wide and excited. “An old drover camped at this very site and sat, lazily looking up at the stars and the moon, getting tired and starting to drift off to sleep. But then he heard a rustling sound. He put down his cuppa and grabbed the billy off the fire, which was full of boiling water. He slowly turned to where the noise was coming from and waited.” Lauren, her Mom and Coco watched Dad pick up the billy of boiling water to demonstrate. They all had eyes wide open and held their breath with anticipation.
“The rustling in the dark grew louder. The forest critters were all quiet and the water went still. It was like the forest was trying to warn him. Fear tingled down his spine and his grey hair began turning white.”
Lauren hugged Coco tightly, her eyes wide with fright. Mom looked around for something to hug and grabbed her own hat and bit the rim.
“He raised the billy up, ready to hit whatever was coming toward him from the bushes. Was it a giant python about to crush him? Was it a werewolf? Or a fearful yowie with big, big teeth, powerful hands the size of car tyres and a roar that would freeze anyone with terror?”
“Ow,” said Coco as Lauren was squeezing him so tight. Her Mom was chewing hard on the rim of her hat.
“He stood still, very still. And then suddenly something shot out from the bushes. It was dark, he could not see it clearly. But it was moving straight toward him. And then he saw it. A giant wombat. And. It was. Headless!”
Lauren and her Mom screamed in fright. Dad laughed and then suddenly something dark burst out from the bushes behind her Dad.
“Aha!” it said and rushed toward Coco. Dad dropped the billy on top of the thing, spilling hot water on it.
“Suffering shamrocks!” it screamed and ran across the fire, burning its feet. It ran into a tent, dazed and confused, out again and then bumped into a tree.
“Ow!” it cried out. Then it splashed into the dark river and disappeared across the other side.
“What was that?” said Dad and they all went silent looking at the dark forest on the other side.
“I think it must have been a wombat,” said Mom.
“Wearing a blue hat?” asked Dad. And then they heard a crack of lightning and a faint howling echo through the forest. Dad looked up at the sky, then all around them and then into the blackness of the forest.
“How about we all sleep in the one tent tonight.” He said.
“Yes!” they all replied. Even Coco, who put his hand to his mouth straight after.
So that night everyone slept in the large tent. And Lauren and Coco slept soundly knowing that the leprechaun that tried to take the spell off Coco was on his long journey back to Ireland that night.
Lauren woke up in the middle of the night. She was now sure they could find her and Coco anywhere they went.
“This can’t go on,” she thought.
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