by Pat Clarke
She had been happy here at Ma Turner’s, but now that her son was leaving, she was determined to go with him.
Dulcie waited until the old lady had climbed on board the tricycle and her back was turned. Seeing her chance, she jumped on to the edge of the carry-all and squeezed in between Eggie and the triplets.
No way was she going to be left behind!
Smiling to herself, she pictured the surprised look on Rex’s face when he found out that the new rooster, Eggie, was actually his own son and that she, Dulcie, was returning home after all this time.
Chapter Nineteen
How peaceful it is now, thought Sheila as she walked over and joined her friends beneath the shady branches of a coolabah tree. Her injured leg and sore feet had mended completely and her limp was finally gone. All her good friends were there – all the birds and animals she cared most about: Elvis, Zelma and Louise, Bazza, Rover, Marnie and Marty and, of course, her new friend Maggie. With no rooster to worry about, even Clancy the goanna was able to join the party.
Sheila looked around her and smiled. Each of them had helped her in some way since escaping the farm. She owed her life to these special friends. What a lucky chook she was!
During the past few weeks, Eggie’s dreadful crowing had caused almost everyone to abandon the campsite and seek refuge in the forest. Now that the rooster had gone, it was a great chance to get together with her friends and enjoy the peace and quiet.
They were sitting under the tree, talking about the events leading up to Eggie’s departure, when Rover spoke up. Something had been puzzling him for a while. ‘What on earth was Ma doing in a police car that day?’ he asked. ‘I’ve never been able to figure it out.’
Sheila looked to Bazza for the answer. The dingo had been with his mistress at the time and would surely know.
‘On the day we found Elvis,’ Bazza explained, ‘we’d put him in the pull-along and were about to leave, when Ma noticed a wallet on the ground. She thought it might belong to one of the robbers, so she took it in to the police station on the day we’re talking about. They were pleased she had gone to all that trouble and offered to drive her home … so that’s how it all came about.’
He grinned as he remembered what had happened next. ‘The fox had a close call that day, didn’t he? Does anyone know what’s become of him since?’
‘Maggie has been keeping an eye out,’ said Sheila. ‘The latest news is that he’s living in the Beni Forest and has become a vegetarian.’
‘What’s a vegetarian?’ asked Rover.
‘Someone who doesn’t eat meat. He now lives on things like fruits and berries, yabbies, frogs, fish and such,’ Zelma explained. ‘Remember the “trauma” you told us about? The shock that Eggie suffered? Well the same kind of thing happened to Rufus. The shock of being attacked by the cockies and bombarded with eggs affected him so badly, he can’t bear the sight of birds any longer, much less the idea of eating one.’
Rover howled with amusement. ‘So it’s pretty safe to say we don’t have to worry about him anymore!’
They all laughed.
Chapter Twenty
Zelma and Louise returned to the Goonoo Forest and resumed their happy lifestyle, mixing with all the other forest creatures, great and small.
As soon as Elvis recovered from his injuries, he and Sheila built a new nest in a tall tree close to Ma Turner’s campsite. The two companions appreciated each other more than ever and celebrated each new day with a nice long joy flight. They travelled further and further afield, exploring the countryside and having many more adventures.
One lovely starry night, as Sheila and Elvis were admiring the brilliant sky, Elvis was unusually silent.
Finally he spoke. ‘We are getting old, Sheila, my dear,’ he said, ‘and our time on earth might soon be over. So is there any special journey you would like to take, before that time comes?’
Sheila looked up at the heavens, at the bright lights that were twinkling and shining. ‘Do you think we could make it as far as the stars?’ she asked.
‘I don’t see why not,’ smiled Elvis. ‘And let’s call in at the moon along the way.’
More Adventures of the One-Eyed Chook
A One-Eyed Chook Called Sheila
Danger, adventure and an unlikely romance await a one-eyed chook named Sheila and her friends, Zelma and Louise, as they race towards the Goonoo Forest in order to escape a chopping block, an eagle and a hungry red fox.
The Flying Lesson
Grandad embarks on a flying lesson involving chooks, lions, pelicans, a zoo wedding and the Flying Doctor. Can Wally the white cockatoo save the day?