Water Under The Pont

Katherine pulls up in the car park at the ferry landing.

We're here, says Katherine. I don't see Jerry's family. Let's get out and wait.

Yay! says Terence. Can I we go to the kiosk?

If we're quick, says Katherine. We don't want to miss them.

They enter the kiosk.

Katherine orders a coffee, and Terence looks at the lollies.

No lollies, says Katherine. How about a red apple?

She is so mean.

They leave the kiosk with a takeaway coffee, and one red apple.

My day's ruined already, says Terence.

You have a delicious apple, says Katherine.

What if this is the last kiosk? asks Terence.

I'm sure it isn't, says Katherine. Forget about kiosks. Let's see if the dinghy's still here.

There it is! cries Terence. And there's Captain Bruni! Hey! Captain Bruni!

Captain Bruni stops dragging his dinghy along the sand, and scrapes his way up to the car park.

Hey ho! says Captain Bruni. The agreeable lady, and the dinghy thief.

I floated away accidentally, says Terence.

You cut the rope with a steak knife! says Captain Bruni. But it is all water under the pont. How are you enjoying Bruny Island?

Very nice, says Katherine. Especially the cheeses. Terence has been bird spotting, but it became unworkable.

Tut! says Captain Bruny.

Now he is going to the Lighthouse, says Katherine. Have you been?

Have I been! says Captain Bruny. Of course I've been. I'm good friends with Captain William Hawkins, the longest serving lighthouse keeper on Bruny Island. Thirty seven years and two hundred and thirty two days he tended the Cape Bruny Lighthouse.

Not that anyone was counting, says Katherine.

Ha ha, laughs Captin Bruny. I think he was counting.

He is silent for a moment. Then he says:

May I accompany you to the Lighthouse?

Ah, says Katherine. That would be delightful, but I am not going.

Don't tell me the little adventurer is going on his own? says Captain Bruny.

Yes, says Terence.

That is untrue, Terence, says Katherine.

He said don't tell him, says Terence.

Terence is going with a friend and the friend's parents, says Katherine. They should be here soon.

So they should. And they are!

Hello! Are we ready to go? says Dad, pulling up beside Katherine, Terence and Captain Bruni.

Jerry sticks his head out of the back window.

Hey Terence. Where's your parrot?

I've only got an apple, says Terence.

And a lobster, says Mum, peering past Dad, and seeing Captain Bruni.

Can he come? asks Terence. He wants to. He knows the keeper.

To their credit, Mum and Dad don't bat an eyelid.

What good parents.

Captain Bruny is in.