by Susan Pease
Sitting on the window box was comforting and the room was cosy. Eiki still missed her mum and dad; she coped well enough and was grateful that she had her best friend there to look after her. It wasn’t long before Eiki herself fell fast asleep. The night had begun and the day was done.
CHAPTER FOUR
Panic In Australia
Back in Australia, Eiki’s mother was having a devil of a time trying to find her daughter. It was early in the morning when Eiki’s mother went to wake her for breakfast and discovered that she was missing from her room. She checked under the bed, in the bathroom and knocked on the toilet door. No Eiki anywhere, very strange indeed. Eiki didn’t like to get out of her soft, warm bed early in the morning. Eiki’s mother usually had a hard time getting her out of bed. It wasn’t a morning without the normal Slurp-it-Downs argument on “hurrying up” for school and the fight over her washing her face was intolerable! It took place every Slurp-it-Downs morning because Eiki said she was allergic to water and soap. Eiki Slurp-it-Downs and washing did not mix.
She found her husband outside and asked if he had seen Eiki. He was astonished that she was out of bed so early but didn’t think too much about it; after all, Eiki was usually up to something yet it always seemed to end well.
‘She has probably dashed off to one of her school friend’s house for a Slurp-it-Downs breakfast and just forgot to tell us. You know she never even thinks to let us know what she is doing so don’t worry. When she gets back, I will have another talk to her on letting us know before she goes anywhere.’
Her mother did not think as he did but didn’t argue, Eiki was missing and that was that. She was fed up with the talks, how many do they have to have before she got it?
‘Where in Slurp-it-Downs heaven could she be? That child will be the death of me. Always up to some kind of shenanigans. If she has travelled without permission there will be trouble. A few hours on the time-out mat will do her more good than another long talk. And that is a Slurp-it-Downs fact.’
After searching and searching, her mother felt that something was terribly wrong and approached the town elder.
‘I just don’t know where the naughty Slurp-it-Downs is and I have looked everywhere. She knows not to go anywhere without telling an adult where she is going, even though her dad thinks she does, at times, take off without a word. How many times do I have to remind the little Slurp-it-Downs to let us know? I’ve asked all of Eiki’s friends if they have seen her, nobody has seen her at all this morning. And she will miss school and fall behind on all of the lessons if she isn’t found soon. Just hope she hasn’t taken off exploring in the bush by herself. Lately, all she seems to do is sit on the time-out mat because she is constantly in trouble. Very soon it will be worn out.’
The elder was concerned as there were many fires still being lit throughout the bush. It had been weeks and the firebug had not been found. The authorities had stepped up their search to catch the culprit. So far no luck and it was starting to wear thin, they had been put on constant guard day and night. Eiki was very likely in danger, wandering around without anybody to protect the little Slurp-it-Downs. Who knows what kind of situation she could find herself in? All the small creatures were under strict instructions to stay in the village unless they had an adult with them. She knew that very well and as usual had ignored the warnings.
Aunt Pepper came out of the snot glue production room and sensed that the village was concerned about something.
‘What’s going on? I could hear all of you from inside the snot pot room?’
‘It’s little Eiki; she’s vanished and nobody has seen her at all this morning. Just disappeared and that means no breakfast and no school,’ cried Eiki’s mother.
‘Well, I don’t think she would have wandered too far, after all, Eiki loves to eat. It’s strange for her to miss a meal though and she only told me the other day how much she enjoys school, especially the lessons where they’re learning about the law of attraction. Eiki asked me yesterday if I could tell her how she could “attract” cream cakes! It was quite funny. Maybe she’s at Jo’s house; they are always together and usually getting into mischief. Although Jo would be at school by now because of the essay exam and you know how important that is. It’s a bit of a mystery I’m afraid, hmm, very strange. Everybody calm down, I’m sure there’s a good explanation on where the little Slurp-it-Downs is. Have any of you gone down to the creek to see if she is playing down there or fishing? Waldo’s out working, he’s checking the bush for polluted samples, and maybe she is with him? I suggest you gather into small groups and start searching. Don’t worry, I will travel to the school and see if she is with Jo. Something tells me she is under the school desk giving Jo encouragement.’
When the creatures met Waldo he hadn’t seen her at all, although he did have a sort of prediction that something horrid was going to happen. This frightened the creatures and school was cancelled. The children were put in the safe hands of their parents for the day. By the time Pepper arrived at the school, all the pupils were in the playground for morning break. She wandered about until she found Melissa.
‘Hi Melissa, have you seen Jo? There’s something I need to talk to her about.’
‘Yes, we were in class together and I left her there while she looked for her pen. She dropped it under the table; I must admit she was acting very strange. I rushed out of the room to buy a paddle pop because I was starving. The exam was so stressy and you know, I think I did really well.’
‘That’s nice dear but I still don’t know where Jo is, are you sure you haven’t seen her since the exam?’
‘Definitely not. Come to think of it, she never did get to line up at the tuck shop. Not like her, maybe she went home unwell. Actually, Jo did have a funny moment during the exam; I thought it was just nerves. Jo never really stresses about essay writing because she’s so good at it. Maybe she had a bellyache and rang her mother to pick her up? Hang on, she was poking her ears with her fingers, she could have an ear infection.’
‘Okay dear, thank you very much. I’m sure we will find Jo soon. I’m glad that you feel you did well in the exam, excellent stuff! See you later.’
Boy that girl can talk a leg off a chair, but she means well I suppose, thought Aunt Pepper.
She pondered for a moment. Jo was missing and so was Eiki; this was not at all good. Something told her it was connected, a sort of second sense. Goodness knows what the two of them were up to, lately Jo and Eiki were always missing somewhere trying to discover anything not yet discovered.
Teachers were notified that Jo had disappeared and that started dramas of its own. Pepper rang her sister Dorothy and she was not at home sick. That phone call only created more anxiety and Jo’s mother nearly had a meltdown. At school the children were all called to assembly and each asked if anybody had seen the missing child. Nobody had seen her since the exam and now it was up to the school principal to call the police. It was a quarter to three and school was about to be dismissed. Just in case something dreadful had happened to Jo, all the children’s parents were asked to pick up their children. A group of kids were escorted to their buses by a teacher. Nothing like this had ever rocked the school community and it sent shockwaves throughout the town. What could have happened to the school’s star essay writer?
The police and teachers searched every square inch of the school and Jo was nowhere to be seen. The creatures searched every square inch of the bush and no Eiki could be found. It was now a new mystery for Corkuparipple Creek. Melissa being dramatic and unpredictable started talking about a book she had been reading. It was about schoolgirls who had gone for a picnic and disappeared. So she was in fine form imagining that Jo had disappeared, never to be found.
‘What if she is never found? Geoffrey will have no sister and I will have lost my best friend. Oh gosh, I should have stayed with her in the classroom after the exam. She probably needed me to help her find the stupid pen. What if a stranger walked into the classroom and grabbed h
er? Oh heck I feel faint; maybe I need another paddle pop to calm my nerves. This is a disaster, maybe school should be cancelled and then we can go home early.’
Considering it was already home time, Melissa needed to take a breath and calm down.
Pepper on the other hand, thought that they had possibly travelled somewhere and were now stuck. Eiki being a small child may not have the strength or know-how to return home. Interesting how Pepper was unwittingly on the correct wavelength. Pepper stayed at Jo’s house that night as the family was stressed and Jo’s mother was not in a good way. Even Geoffrey displayed concern for his sister’s welfare.
‘That sister of mine has really done it this time and you call me the brat! Can’t wonder where she is. I suppose that while she’s missing, you’ll both expect me to do all of her chores. I’m not feeding the blasted animals, they creep me out. But I will look after Charity if you let me go down to the creek. In fact, I would look after her heaps better than my stupid dumb sister because I am a boy. Anyhow, Jo is probably hiding because she thinks she mucked up the exam. Can’t hide from us forever; has to face up to it sooner or later. Probably bummed out and wrote rubbish and knows it. But I must admit she usually gets good marks. It’s a bit off don’t you think? Hey, if she doesn’t come home can I have her room? I mean, it’s heaps bigger than mine and it’s got a beaut view of the creek. What do you think?’
‘Geoffrey, I don’t think she is hiding because of that reason, you know that essays are her passion. I really think something awful has happened to her. And no, you cannot have her room any time soon because she will come home. And also no, you cannot go down to the river and look after Charity, because you’re too young. Do you get it Geoffrey?’ said his mother angrily.
‘Look both of you, she was in the school grounds and she did the exam so I don’t think anything too shocking has happened. It’s just a mystery and this kind of thing does happen sometimes. Dorothy, please do calm down. You’re frightening Geoffrey and that’s not fair. She’s alright; I feel it in my bones. Take a deep breath and have a little think. What secret do you and I know about that Jo might have discovered?’
Dorothy, not really listening, didn’t get what Pepper was saying; she started crying and dashed upstairs. Pepper just shook her head and decided to prepare dinner.
She will get it in a minute so better get dinner prepared before the fallout, thought Pepper anxiously.
As predicted, it wasn’t long before Dorothy rushed down the stairs. All the colour had drained from her face.
‘Don’t tell me that what I am thinking has actually happened. You know something; I am sure you know and haven’t told me. And to make matters worse, we decided not to let Jo know about the creatures until she was much older. You also decided that we wanted her to have an ordinary kind of life without complications. I’m thinking right aren’t I Pepper?’
Geoffrey stared at his mum. What on earth was she talking about? Then it struck him that something was up and demanded that it was time to tell him what they were talking about.
‘Why am I always getting left out of stuff around this place? It’s not fair, just because that dumb bum sister is missing nobody’s making sense. And you never tell me anything, it’s like I don’t exist! Just because I’m only eight doesn’t mean I don’t understand things. Jo may be double figures but look at the mess she’s in. I don’t disappear and cause trouble and that sort of stupid stuff!’
Geoffrey was not in a good mood and was acting like a typical Slurpit-Downs. He watched as Pepper defended herself and wondered why his mum was so upset with her sister.
‘Dorothy, I did not tell her about the creatures, she had discovered them for herself long before I got here.’
‘What creatures, what’s going on!’ bellowed Geoffrey.
‘Be quiet for a moment Geoffrey please, I have to explain something to your mum,’ said Aunt Pepper firmly.
‘You know as well as I do that it must be the way it is meant to be otherwise she would not have seen them. You always blame me for stuff and it’s not my doing. I’m not going to fight with you; we have to sort out what we can do.’
Geoffrey interrupted and demanded yet again that whatever they were talking about he should know. This only threw a spanner in the works and Dorothy sat down with her head in her hands sobbing.
‘Geoffrey, perhaps it would be a good idea if you stayed at your friend’s tonight. Your mum is under a lot of stress and it’s making her imagine things.’
Geoffrey was not at all convinced with Pepper’s explanation and ran upstairs to pack. He had just been given permission to have a sleepover on a school night and was not going to argue the fact.
‘That sister of mine is a fathead, but I get to have a sleepover so I’m on her side wherever she is.’
After Geoffrey was safely next door, Pepper sat down next to her sister to talk to her about Jo and the creatures.
‘Dorothy, Jo is astounding for such a young girl! She takes everything in her stride. The creatures have welcomed her into the village and she has the respect and love of everyone. She helps me heal the animals and asks so many questions, in fact, she reminds me of me when I was young. She has even been able to travel a few times, a bit shaky but still more advanced than I would have thought for a ten year old.’
‘You mean she has travelled; you let her travel by herself? You know how dangerous that can be. She may end up anywhere and you say Eiki is missing. She’s a young creature is she not? Probably unable to get back from wherever they are. Let me get this right. You think they have travelled somewhere and something has gone wrong don’t you?’
‘It did cross my mind and there seems no other explanation. Think about it; they’re both missing and believe me together they are a handful. Jo’s dream to discover anything not discovered has become an obsession. And Eiki is so fond of her that she could be talked into anything. Jo was so upset when she found out I knew about the creatures and that it wasn’t a “new discovery”. Let’s face it; Jo has always been able to hide what she really thinks. Even I sometimes get mixed messages from her and I can read her mind. The fire is still burning inside of her; she is driven to be famous for some kind of discovery. I told her that she has all her life to discover things. But I can tell you now her reason would be so that she can look after you and Geoffrey. I know she feels so sad that her dad died which left you to bring them up by yourself. She wants to help and make your life a little easier, bring in the money so you don’t have to work so much. Very honourable if you ask me, don’t you think? Remember, she thinks she is all grown up now she is ten.’
‘Oh gosh I feel terrible. I never thought that I had asked so much of her. I guess because she’s the eldest I do tend to get her to help me with stuff around the house,’ said Dorothy quietly.
‘Dorothy you don’t ask too much, she has a great life. And remember, children should help their parents around the house a little. It teaches them to be responsible and good adults. We had to do a lot more than the kids do now if you calmed down and remembered. You always had to cover for me because I was a little rat bag and took off. I will never forget when we both jumped into the huge undies hung on the clothesline. We swung around and around until the pegs let fly and we both landed on our backsides laughing our heads off. Mum was so mad that she made us wash the bloomers with a bar of soap until all the stains were out. Boy she had a fat bum and those bloomers were even bigger, think about it we both fitted into each leg. It was all a bit of a hoot don’t you think? We were wild and free and when we became teenagers, boy did we play up. They never knew the stuff we got into and they probably would have had a fit if they had. One thing’s for sure, we never did get the wooden spoon at all, it was all smoke and mirrors to frighten the “you know what” out of us!’
Dorothy’s face broke into a huge smile as the memories of their childhood settled her down.
‘I’m sure Jo will be found; we just have to wait to see if they can travel back. You know Pepper it�
��s probably good that Jo has discovered the creatures. That means so many beautiful people-creatures to learn from and grow up with. We are truly blessed. Let’s hope she is not getting into the same kind of stuff we got into,’ said Dorothy hopefully.
‘Look, even if she did it would be okay, it was all harmless fun, like skinny dipping in the creek and making cubby houses very high in the trees. Not to mention throwing mud pies at the boys that passed. We never smoked or drank or got into those terrible drugs, we were just kids having harmless fun. Then when we were teenagers we stood up for what was right! Somebody had to protest about the stupid war and somebody had to look after the environment. It was cool when I tied myself to the huge gum tree they were going to cut down for a shopping mall. We saved the tree and even got into the local paper. I was famous for about five minutes and mum and dad were so mad they banned me from going out for a month. Didn’t matter as I snuck out anyway. And remember, you wrote some superb protest songs, where are they now?’
‘They’re probably hidden in a trunk in the attic. I suppose I should go through everything up there and share it with Jo someday. That’s if we can sort out a way to get her back, maybe she’s miles away, scared and in a huge pickle.’
They decided that after dinner was over they would brainstorm on what to do. When they went to bed, they decided to leave the light on in the kitchen, in case they turned up. Who knows, maybe in the morning they would find the two scamps home and safe.