Click here Roddy The Rooster Contest Answer three simple questions (all answers at this site) to enter a monthly draw to win Roddy The Rooster & Friends video, cd and colour-in book and consolation prizes. Story #19 Kira Kookaburra If you would like to have Roddy's Story of the Month sent to you each month by e-mail, subscribe to Roddy's Story of the Month Mailing List! You can also read previous months' feature stories, one for each month since August 1997. Most have a picture, so have a look! - Other Farmyard Stories

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Written by Roddy Lee The sun was hot and the air was still the morning Roddy The Rooster looked out his window and saw Mrs Cow feeding on some old lucerne just outside his barn. "G'day Mrs Cow, how are you today?" asked Roddy The Rooster. Mrs Cow looked very hot. "I'm okay, but this heatwave we've been having is really getting to me," Mrs Cow responded. "Yes," agreed Roddy, "We could certainly do with some rain." It was true. Roddy The Rooster's farm had been experiencing a hot, dry spell for more than a month now. The fields had turned brown from the weeks of scorching sun. "This old hay is all that's left to eat," added Mrs Cow. Suddenly Mr Horse's barn door swung open and with a big yawn Mr Horse welcomed the day. "Good morning Mrs Cow. Good morning Roddy. Boy, it's still hot! No sight of rain?" "No rain and no cool breeze," said Roddy pointing to the stationary windmill. Mr Horse came out of his barn and joined Mrs Cow for breakfast. "How can we escape this heat?" asked Mr Horse. "Well, before it gets too hot we should go down to Tumbledown Creek for a swim." said Roddy. "Cassie The Carpetsnake and Joe The Jolly Jumbuck headed down there earlier." So Roddy The Rooster, Mrs Cow and Mr Horse headed down the track to Tumbledown Creek. On the way they saw Penny & Pixie Piglet, dozing in the shade of a wattle tree. Roddy suggested to them that they should join them for a swim. "Why not?" said Penny. "Why not, indeed," agreed Pixie, "it's too hot even in the shade of the wattle tree here!" Arriving down on the bank by Tumbledown Creek Roddy, Mrs Cow, Mr Horse, Penny & Pixie found their usual swimming hole dried up. And there was no sign of Cassie The Carpetsnake or Joe The Jolly Jumbuck. Everyone was very hot from the walk to the creek and Penny & Pixie began to complain when Old Mr Wombat appeared beside them from his home, a hole in the bank. "What's the problem here?" he asked. "It's too hot!" the animals chorused. Roddy The Rooster spoke up, "We came down here for a cool swim but the creek's empty." Mr Wombat told Roddy and his friends that the creek stopped flowing a week ago and the last puddles of water dried up yesterday. "But," he added, "there is a spot about 50 metres upstream where a waterhole exists. It's usually the deepest part of the creek and very dangerous to cross after heavy rains. But seeing there's been no rain and the whole of the creek has dried up it's you're best bet. It's just around the bend by the sandstone cliffs." "Are you sure there's water there," asked Mr Horse. "Well," continued Mr Wombat, "Cassie and Joe came by here earlier and I sent them up there and they haven't returned so I guess it's still a waterhole." "Thankyou Mr Wombat," said Roddy, and as Mr Wombat went back in his hole, Roddy and his friends set off up the dry creek bed in search of the waterhole. The day was getting hotter as Roddy The Rooster, Mrs Cow, Mr Horse and Penny & Pixie Piglet saw the sandstone cliffs ahead. Penny & Pixie were most excited and raced off disappearing around the bend under the sandstone cliffs. Roddy, Mrs Cow and Mr Horse heard "Hooray! It's here!!" followed by a big splash!!! The waterhole did exist, and, yes, it was big enough to swim in. Roddy, Mrs Cow and Mr Horse were soon splashing around with Penny & Pixie. "Wow," said Mr Horse, "what a relief!" "What a relief?! Ha!" came a voice from above the waterhole. It was Uncle Tim The Koala. He had been sleeping in the eucalypt tree and Roddy The Rooster and his noisy friends had woken him. "I'm sorry we woke you, Uncle Tim," said Roddy, on behalf of his friends. "Not to worry," said Uncle Tim, "You seem to be having a great time here." "We are," said Roddy, "It's been so hot and Mr Wombat told us of this waterhole. Did you know this is the only hole with water in it along the whole of Tumbledown Creek?" "Really?" Uncle Tim was surprised. "I've never heard of the creek being so dry. This must be the worst drought in history. At least as long as I can remember. Anyway," continued Uncle Tim, "you guys enjoy yourselves." The five great friends spent the next half an hour frollicking around in the waterhole. Mrs Cow taught the others how to play "Whirlpool". "It's easy," she said. "We all walk around the pool in the same direction and this creates a whirlpool. And then, when it's going really fast, you try and swim in the opposite direction to the whirlpool." "Wow, this is great," said Roddy, "when you swim against the current you swim in the same spot." Mr Horse was getting tired and as he got out of the waterhole Roddy yelled "Hey!" Mr Horse turned back to Roddy as Mrs Cow, Penny & Pixie looked up to Roddy, "Where's Cassie and Joe?" They'd been having so much fun they forgot about their friends. Right there and then, a familiar voice was heard from behind the blackberry bushes just beside the creek, "Hey, everyone!" Roddy and his friends looked up to see Cassie appear from underneath the blackberry bushes. "Mrs Cow, Mr Horse! Joe and I have found some delicious tucker and a natural spring to boot!" Mrs Cow and Mr Horse left the waterhole to investigate, followed by Roddy and Penny & Pixie. Sure enough, they found Joe The Jolly Jumbuck lazing under the blackberry bushes, his tummy full of fresh green grass and cool clear water. "This is great!" the animals agreed. An impromptu picnic followed. Then after a short rest Roddy and his friends returned to the waterhole for another swim. Mrs Cow taught Cassie & Joe how to play "Whirlpool" too. It was late in the afternoon when Roddy and his friends headed back down the dry creek bed to Mr Wombat's home then up the path that leads to Roddy The Rooster's farm. They were passing through the brown fields of grass when, out of the blue, they heard "Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo-ah-ahh-wah-wah!" It was Kira Kookaburra! "G'day, Kira!" yelled Roddy, "Haven't seen or heard of you for a long time!" "Well," said Kira from her position high in the coolabah tree, "There hasn't been much need for me around here lately, what with the drought and all that. You know, no rain, no me!" "Of course," Roddy realised "When a Kookaburra sings some rain she brings!" And with that the first drops of rain started to fall from above. The animals all cheered. "Oh, it's great to see you, Kira!" And with the rain sprinkling down on their heads Roddy The Rooster, Cassie The Carpetsnake, Joe The Jolly Jumbuck, Mrs Cow, Mr Horse and Penny & Pixie Piglet headed back to the farm knowing that soon the fields will be lush and green again and Tumbledown Creek will be flowing full of fresh cool rainwater. More Roddy The Rooster's Farmyard Stories #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20 #21 #22 #23 #24 #25 #26 #27 #28 #29 #30 #31 #32 #33 #34 #35 #36

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