46 Paddles and a Swim

Post your true-blue Aussie yarns here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Stephen Whiteside
Posts: 3784
Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
Contact:

46 Paddles and a Swim

Post by Stephen Whiteside » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:48 am

46 Paddles and a Swim

© Stephen Whiteside 28.11.2011

Horatio and Magnifico awoke with the dawn, feeling very much refreshed. Horatio had dried off during the night, and was now as warm as toast. They climbed out of their tunnel, had a good stretch in the morning sun, and finished off the parrot for breakfast.

Then it was time to discuss the day ahead. Horatio, as ever, was all for pitching the raft back in the water and heading off downstream as fast as possible. Magnifico had different ideas, however.

Horatio, those sticks are useless as paddles. We have to do better than that.

Well, what do you have in mind?

I’ve been thinking about it. We need something that is thick at the bottom, so the water can’t just rush around it, yet still skinny at the top so we can get our paws around it.

Well how are we going to find a stick shaped like that?



We’re not. That’s the point. That’s why we’re going to have to make them ourselves!

Make them ourselves? What do you mean?

Here’s my suggestion. We need to take one of our paddles, and line up a few very short sticks at one end, then tie them all together.

Tie them all together? How are we going to do that?

Grass. We can do it with grass.

Grass? But that will take ages.

It will take quite a while, that is true, but think of all the trouble it will save while we are on the river. Besides, remember our deal? I agreed to come with you only on the condition that we stop and smell the flowers every now and then. And since we made that deal, we really haven’t stopped at all.

Horatio nodded soberly.

Fair enough. That sounds fair enough. So we stop here for a while and make paddles, and have a bit of a rest at the same time. OK. I guess the peanut cow’s not going any where.

Maybe it is going somewhere, Horatio. And maybe you’ll miss it if we head off today, but find it if we wait a while. A day or two. Or three.

Horatio looked at Magnifico oddly, but said nothing.

And so they began their search. Small twigs to make up paddles. Again, as always, it seemed, they were faced with dilemmas. Should they just go for very short sticks and twigs, or should they choose larger sticks - wider and longer - and chew them into shorter lengths?

And what about the grass? Should it be green or dry? And should they secure one stick at a time, or fashion the complete paddle first, and then weave it all together as one? Or some sort of combination of both?

They didn’t solve any of these questions immediately but, through a long process of trial and error, they did eventually solve many of them.

It was engrossing work. Horatio could not recall having had so much fun in ages. To sit down and seriously try to mould the external world to suit his needs, rather than simply crash along as a hapless victim. It was wonderfully exhilarating. Magnifico, too, enjoyed the challenge. So far as predators were concerned, it appeared that the spirit of Dulcie continued to watch over them. Horatio and Magnifico spent the entire morning immersed in their work, in broad day-light, on largely open ground, with not a thought for the risk of attack.

By midday they had something to show for their labours - a collection of paddles, most of them misshapen and useless, but a couple that were at least showing some potential.

After a light lunch of grass and insects, Magnifico suggested they have a swim to cool off. Why this Magnifico, he certainly knows how to enjoy himself, thought Horatio! And so they did.

Being a rat, Horatio knew instinctively how to swim, but it was not something he had ever chosen to do before now. Magnifico was right, though. It was great fun. First of all he paddled back and forth near the bank. Then, growing in confidence, he began to venture further out into the stream. He began to feel the current dragging at his legs, and quickly made once more for the bank. Still, it was wonderful to know that, if he was parted from the raft some time in the future he would not have to thrash around in the water in a blind panic. He would feel more confident in the water now, knowing that he was in fact quite a good swimmer.

Horatio dived down to the river bed. He felt the soft mud against his paws. He opened his eyes to see the dark green water. He couldn’t see very far, and it was frightening to imagine what creatures may be lurking in the depths. Suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of panic, he kicked once again for the surface. It was a relief to feel the bright sunlight against his face, and breath the sweet air deeply into his lungs. Sure, he’d felt panicky during that first dive but that, too, would improve with time, he felt confident.

Horatio and Magnifico swam ashore once more, and shook themselves dry. Refreshed in both mind and body, they turned their attentions once more to the task of paddle making
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au

Post Reply