Freakin Weather

It starts raining.

Wittgenstein surfs in.

That was a good one, says Wittgenstein. Did you see it?

No, I missed it, says Gaius. We're going back to the camper.

Did you see the Five Islands? asks Wittgenstein.

I did, says Roo-kai.

I went canoeing, says Terence.

After he fell into the river, says Gaius.

Why are the frogs in those socks? asks Wittgenstein.

They're tied in, says Terence. And we can't untie them.

We need scissors, says Gaius. Or a knife, if there are no scissors.

Sweezus and Arthur arrive, carrying their surfboards.

Hey! says Sweezus. What's with the frogs?

They're trapped! says Terence.

Looks like they shat themselves, says Sweezus.

Those are PEBBLES, says Terence. 

Get us out! says Quiet-Tartus. Everyone's laughing!

No one is laughing, says Gaius.

They are! says Shorty-Tartus.

And they are. The girl team, standing there watching.

Come on, says Gaius. Let's all get out of the rain.

They head back to the camper.

Now to look for the scissors, says Gaius. Arthur?

Here, says Arthur. I'll do it.

He whips a knife out from his boardshorts.

Did you have that all the time we were surfing? asks Sweezus.

Yes, says Arthur.

Lucky it didn't fall out of your pocket, says Sweezus. Why'd you bring it?

Sharks, says Arthur.

Any sign of them? asks Wittgenstein.

Nah, says Sweezus. They buggered off to Mexico to find underwater fossils.

Better there than here, says Wittgenstein.

Sure is. Rain's getting heavier, says Sweezus. Better check the forecast.

Arthur cuts the reeds from the socks with the knife, while Sweezus checks the forecast and Gaius puts the kettle on.

Scheisse! says Sweezus. Take a look at this freakin' weather!

What ill luck! says Gaius. Will this prevent us from driving to Queensland?

Yeah, says Sweezus. Heaps of towns on the way are under water.

Too bad, says Quiet-Tartus.

They hear the female frogs chattering outside.

Let us out, says Quiet-Tartus. We need to tell them we're not going.

Yet, says Terence.

Knots That Would Baffle A Sailor

It has been interesting to talk to you, says Coralie. But we must take our canoe back. 

Indeed, says Gaius. It's getting late. Terence and I must return to Saltwater Beach where our friends have been surfing.

Tilly! calls Coralie. Come back now! Leave the frogs!

Don't leave us! cries Quiet-Tartus.

Not like this! says Shorty-Tartus.

Terence will carry you, says Tilly. 

No way, says Terence. They have to try out the penalty.

We don't want to, says Quiet-Tartus. 

Well, I'm going, says Tilly. See you!

She returns to her mum.

Where are your socks, Tilly? asks Coralie.

They got muddy, says Tilly. I left them with Terence.

Okay, says Coralie. Put your shoes on, and get in the canoe

Gaius pushes them out into the Knappinghat Creek. They paddle away, waving.

Gaius makes his way to where Terence is instructing the frogs.

What on earth is happening? asks Gaius. Why are the frogs wearing socks?

It's a penalty, says Quiet-Tartus. But we don't like it.

It's far too tough a penalty, says Gaius. Can you even move forward?

No, says Shorty-Tartus. Not with these pebbles.

Gaius can see that each sock is weighted with a pebble. The socks are tied round the frogs' middles with reeds. Their back legs are hampered.

Did you come up with this, Terence? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. But they're Tilly's socks, and Roo-kai found the pebbles.

And suggested the reeds, says Roo-kai. Perhaps we got carried away.

Not perhaps, says Gaius. A penalty should not completely disable a player. Untie them, Terence.

But Tilly has tied the reeds using knots that would baffle a sailor.

Terence can't do it. Nor can Gaius.

Pick them up, says Gaius. We'll carry them back to Saltwater. There will be scissors in the camper.

They head back along the Five Islands Walking Trail to the surf beach.

The girl frog team has long ago stopped doing star jumps. 

They are watching Wittgenstein practise his pop-ups.

They laugh loudly when they see Quiet-Tartus and Shorty-Tartus, being carried in socks.

We Need Reeds

Hey, wait! says Quiet-Tartus. This was a only practice!

Yes, says Shorty-Tartus, and those socks are too long!

We need proper frog socks, says Quiet-Tartus.

There's no such thing as proper frog socks, says Terence.

There could be, says Tilly. My mum could knit them.

When? asks Terence.

Not today, says Tilly. So we'll have to make do with my big socks.

Hear that? says Terence. Make do with her big socks.

Can't we just keep on training? asks Quiet-Tartus.

Don't ask him, says Shorty-Tartus. We're not his frogs.

You guys keep training, says Tilly, and I'll fix my socks so that when you've finished training, you can try them on and see what running is like with a penalty.

Yes, says Terence. Keep training. We'll fix it.

The frogs are relieved.

They don't want to waste time trying super long socks on.

They resume doing laps round the pebbles.

Now what? asks Terence.

Get me two pebbles, says Tilly. Not the track markers, or the frogs'll run off the track.

Why would they? asks Terence.

Because of the gap, says Tilly.

Terence imagines a gap. He imagines himself doing frog laps, seeing the gap and running through it. Where would he go? Straight into the Knappinghat Creek! What a disaster!

Good thinking, says Terence.

 He plods through the mud to look for two extra pebbles.

There's a good one, says Roo-kai, from a low branch where he has been watching.

And there's another.

Terence picks up the two pebbles and takes them back to Tilly, who is waiting for the pebbles, contemplating her socks.

After this, they'll be ruined.

She inserts one muddy pebble into each sock and realises she now has a problem.

Need some reeds? asks Roo-kai.

YES! says Tilly. Reeds to tie them onto the frogs' legs.

I was going to say that, says Terence.

Sure you were, says Tilly.

The frogs come back, puffing, just in time to see the tough penalties they'll be facing if they stuff up in Queensland.

Pebble Penalties

Terence and Tilly are setting up a running track.

It is marked out with pebbles.

These pebbles are useful, says Terence.

For weights, and now running track markers, says Quiet-Tartus.

Ready to do some running? asks Tilly. I'll say go.

No cheating, says Terence. 

You're good, says Shorty-Tartus. 

What at? asks Terence.

Being neutral, says Shorty-Tartus. Your parrot was going to give you some lessons.

What's neutral? asks Terence.

Neutral is fair, says Tilly.

This is just training, says Terence.

Yes, but in Queensland, says Quiet-Tartus. The others might cheat.

That's your job, says Shorty-Tartus. 

Saying no cheating? says Terence.

And giving them penalties if they do, says Tilly.

Yes, says Terence. Penalties. Let's pretend you guys are cheating and I'll give you penalties.

Okay, says Shorty-Tartus.

Careful, says Quiet-Tartus. We want to know what the penalties are.

The penalties are, you lose points, says Tilly.

Yes, says Terence, and you have to carry a pebble. No wait, you have to wear a sock with a pebble inside it.

Where? asks Quiet-Tartus.

Anywhere, says Terence. Your choice.

Come on, says Tilly. Ready?

Ready.

Go! says Tilly.

The frogs race along the pebble marked track.

They both remember they're supposed to be cheating.

They each stick out a foot sideways.

They both fall down.

Penalty! calls Terence.

Tilly picks up two pebbles, and takes off her socks.

Zoom! Crack! Yum!

Tilly and Terence drift back to the shore.

Coralie pulls the canoe onto the mud flat.

We saw a brahminy kite and an osprey, says Tilly.

Nice, says Coralie. Did you write that in your notebook?

Yes, says Tilly, climbing out.

Terence follows. 

Lurch. Squelch.

He plods back to where Gaius is sitting.

I never got a horse, says Terence.

You were never going to, says Gaius. 

Or a canoe, says Terence.

Look on the bright side, says Gaius. You had a canoe ride. And I hear you spotted some birds.

Binoculars didn't work, says Terence. I had to do normal looking.

Nothing wrong with normal looking, says Gaius.

Where are my frogs? asks Terence.

Yes, where are they? asks Tilly. What did they do with the pebbles?

Dear me, says Gaius. I don't see them.

We had all better start looking, says Coralie. They can't have got far with those pebbles.

You're right, says Gaius. The pebbles are missing.

I'll find them, says Roo-kai.

See how useful parrots are? says Terence.

If he finds them before we do, says Tilly.

Roo-kai rises and flies to a shady spot.

Quiet-Tartus and Shorty-Tartus are relaxing there, next to their pebbles.

Hello boys! says Roo-kai. Finished your training?

Talking tactics, says Quiet-Tartus.

Very wise, seeing there's only the two of you, says Roo-kai. And who knows how many Slender Bleating Tree Frogs you'll encounter?

There will have to be rules of engagement, says Shorty-Tartus. Two against two, no interference.

You'll need someone to organise that, says Roo-kai. And make sure the rules are not broken.

Gaius, says Quiet-Tartus.

No, says Roo-kai. He will have more important business.

Terence? suggests Shorty-Tartus.

I had been thinking of myself, says Roo-kai. But I might be perceived as a predator. Terence is more likely to be seen to be neutral.

But would he be neutral? asks Quiet-Tartus.

I shall teach him the importance of being neutral, says Roo-kai. Before we get to Queensland. There is plenty of time.

Great, says Quiet-Tartus. Now, could you help us set up a running track?

No, says Roo-kai.

He flies back to Gaius and Terence.

The frogs are over there, in the shade, says Roo-kai. They would like Terence to help them set up a running track.

I'll come and help too, says Tilly.

Now for some me-time, thinks Roo-kai.

He perches on the edge of the canoe, looking for bubbles in the mud, which might indicate the presence of molluscs.

Yes! Zoom! Crack! Yum!

If Your Loved One Loved The Sea

We're not going to hire a canoe, says Gaius. Besides, you're too heavy.

I'll take him out in this one, says Tilly.

Yippee! says Terence.

Is that all right? asks Coralie.

How old is Tilly? asks Gaius.

Ten, says Coralie. And good at canoeing. A keen birdwatcher, like me. 

This'll be fun, says Tilly, getting back into the canoe with Terence. Would you like mum's binoculars?

Here, says Coralie, getting up and handing them over.

Give us a push, says Tilly.

Coralie pushes the canoe out into the water.

They are floating!

I'll keep an eye on them, says Roo-kai.

Excellent. says Gaius.

He continues to explain the difference between Screaming and Slender Bleating Tree Frogs, and why he is going to Queensland, and how he also hopes to visit the Great Barrier Reef and look for gobies.

Coralie tells Gaius that she has recently heard about reef balls.

What are they? asks Gaius.

They are cement balls with holes in them, says Coralie, They are dropped at strategic places on a reef and coral grows on them. 

A fine idea, says Gaius.

Yes, says Coralie. You can even have your loved one's ashes mixed into the cement, as a memorial.

Indeed! says Gaius. Yes, I suppose that is appealing.

If your loved one loved the sea, says Coralie.

Yes, says Gaius. Or was concerned for the coral.

Meanwhile Terence and Tilly have drifted some distance from the shore.

They are both looking up at the sky, through binoculars.

O look! says Tilly, a brahminy kite!

Terence looks through the his binoculars for the brahminy kite.

He can't see it.

Can't you see it? asks Tilly.

No, says Terence. Not through these. Only by looking.

Maybe it's your eyes, says Tilly. Are they cement ones?

Yes, says Terence. I used to live on a palace.

Like a statue? asks Tilly.

Like a prisoner, says Terence. I was glad I fell off.

And you didn't break? asks Tilly.

Someone caught me, says Terence.

Who? asks Tilly. 

Sweezus, says Terence. He's at the beach, surfing.

And is that your oystercatcher, circling up there?

Parrot, says Terence. 

You don't know much about birds, says Tilly.

Only parrots, says Terence.

Tilly laughs.

They are getting on well.

Entanglement

When are we going to Queensland? asks Shorty-Tartus.

Soon, says Gaius. 

Not yet, says Terence, we've got things to do first.

Like what? asks Shorty-Tartus.

See the five islands, says Terence.

I've seen them, says Shorty-Tartus. There are five of them. They get smaller.

You've wrecked it, says Terence. I don't want to go now.

We'll continue walking, says Gaius. Five islands or no.

No, says Terence.

I'll fly ahead, says Roo-kai.

Why? asks Terence.

To see if they get smaller, says Roo-kai. It may be an illusion.

He flies off, over the tranquil estuary, towards the sea.

We need to get on with our training, says Quiet-Tartus.

Okay, says Shorty-Tartus. Hopping, or shall we lift weights?

Quiet-Tartus is pleased with the suggestion.

Lifting weights.

They go down to the river bank, looking for suitable pebbles.

Now what? says Terence.

We wait, I suppose, says Gaius. Let's go down to the riverbank and assist them.

Yay! says Terence. Can I throw pebbles into the water?

Better not, says Gaius. There are people canoeing and kayaking.

It is true. Knappinghat Creek is perfect for such activities.

There goes a canoe now, with two people in it, both with binoculars.

O look, says the small one. An eagle!

It's a white-breasted sea eagle, says the big one. Write that down in your notebook.

The small one writes that.

O look, says the big one. Two frogs lifting up pebbles. There, near the reeds!

They drift closer, and become entangled in reeds, rushes and sedges.

We're stuck! says the big one.

May I help? asks Gaius, appearing.

And me, says Terence.

Yes, please, says the big one. Just give us a push.

But it isn't that easy. Gaius can't reach the canoe. 

Terence leans forward.

His arms are even shorter. Plop! he falls in and sinks to the bottom.

Luckily the bottom is not far from the surface.

Curses! says Gaius.

Don't panic, says the big one. I'll lift him in.

She leans over and grasps an exposed part of Terence.

Oh! she cries.  

For Terence is heavier than she expected.

Gaius wades in. 

Terence is lifted into the canoe, which now sits dangerously low in the water.

The small one clambers out, and wades to the shore, near the frogs with the pebbles.

The big one clambers out too.

Gaius drags the canoe, with Terence inside it, away from the tangled reeds and onto the mud flat.

Get me out! says Terence.

In a minute, says Gaius. 

I'm Coralie, says the big one. Sorry about that

And I'm Tilly, says the small one. Look at these frogs! They've collected a whole heap of pebbles.

Unusual behaviour, says Coralie.

They're going to Queensland! shouts Terence.

For comparative purposes, says Gaius.

Coralie would like to know more.

Gaius is in the middle of explaining when Roo-kai returns with his findings.

He sees Terence, dripping wet, in the canoe.

Well? says Terence.

It's not an illusion, says Roo-kai.

But Terence has forgotten about the five islands. 

Now he wants a canoe.