The View From The Bottom

Next morning, it's the Redbacks Soccer Club presentation. Under sevens.

Fish gets a trophy, along with the rest of the team.

Katherine sits next to Butterfly, dutifully clapping.

Some teams are mixed, (but not very).

A team is called up with five boys and only one girl in.

I know EXACTLY how that girl feels, says Butterfly.

......

After lunch at Sushi Train in Penrith, Daddy, Mummy, Butterfly, Fish and Katherine drive to Leura, to view the waterfall from the bottom.

Sweezus stays home, waiting for Ray.

Ding dong! Here is Ray now, with his spider book.

Come through, says Sweezus. We'll sit outside.

They sit out the back, on the balcony overlooking the garden. The trees flicker and rustle, due to landings of colourful parrots.

The two arachnologists ignore the colourful parrots, and bury their heads in the spider book.

See, says Ray. Funnel webs can be this size. Or this size. One to five centimetres. Or in between.

I get it, says Sweezus. It's not like I know nothing. I boned up at home.

They have a hairless carapace, says Ray, and relatively long spinnerets.

Yeah, yeah, says Sweezus. And what's that thing?

Any young ears listening? says Ray.

Everyone's out, Ray, says Sweezus.

This one's a male, says Ray. Males have a large mating spur that projects from the middle of their second pair of legs.

Jeez, Ray! says Sweezus.

It's called reproduction, says Ray. No need to be squeamish.

I'm not squeamish, says Sweezus. It's how you said it. Fricken' creepy.

I said it perfectly normally, says Ray.

Maybe it's me, says Sweezus. Maybe it's you.

It's not me, says Ray.

It's not like you're mister perfect, says Sweezus.

Don't claim to be, says Ray. Could you be more specific?

Two presents, says Sweezus. You gave Fish two presents.

Which you asked me to do, says Ray.

One was meant to be from ME, says Sweezus.

Oh, SO sorry, says Ray. You should have given more detailed instructions. How we'll get on in Booderee, I cannot imagine.

Uh? says Sweezus.

Bugger. So Ray thinks he's coming......