Lulu Bell and the Koala Joey (2 page)

The bulldozer drove past the front of the house. It trundled along on a rolling track. Puffs of grey dust billowed up from the road. The driver waved at them as he passed. The kids waved back.

The bulldozer slowed down then pulled to the side in front of the bushland next door.

‘What's he doing?' asked Mum. She frowned and put down the beach bag she was carrying.

‘There's Mr O'Connor,' said Peter. ‘Let's ask him if he knows.'

Old Mr O'Connor lived alone in the house next door. He was the owner of the beach house they stayed in. He had owned the land along the beachfront for decades. Lulu was a little afraid of him. He was sometimes a bit grouchy about noisy children and lost balls.

Mr O'Connor was holding up several large pieces of paper. He was talking to another man who was wearing a hard hat.

Mr O'Connor pointed at the plans drawn on his papers then waved towards the trees.

‘I don't like the look of that,' said Dad. He leaned the surfboards against the wall.

Dad walked over to the two men.

‘Good morning, Mr O'Connor,' said Dad. ‘How are you?'

Mr O'Connor looked cross. His face was furrowed by a frown.

‘Better make sure those children stay away,' he said. ‘The bulldozer will be working here for the next few days. I don't want anyone getting hurt.'

‘Are you knocking down the trees?' asked Alison.

Mr O'Connor shrugged. ‘I'm selling these three blocks of land for new houses,' he said. ‘The real estate agent says there are lots of people wanting to build houses here now.'

‘Oh, no,' said Lulu. ‘What about the animals that live there? What about the kangaroos and the koalas?'

Mr O'Connor harrumphed. ‘They'll be all right. Besides, I haven't seen any koalas here for a long time.'

Lulu felt a lump in her throat.
She didn't want the bush to be cleared. She didn't want Tarni Beach to change. Lulu scuffed her shoe in the dirt.

‘Well, if you'll excuse us,' said Mr O'Connor. ‘The men have to get to work. I want every tree gone by the end of the week.'

Lulu looked at Mr O'Connor in horror. ‘But you can't …' she began.

Mum put her arms on Lulu's shoulders.

‘Come on, honey bun,' said Mum. ‘Let's go to the beach.'

The driver started up the engine again. The bulldozer roared into life. Asha put her tail between her legs. She didn't like the loud noise.

‘Brooom,' roared Gus.

The two families went back to the house to collect all their gear. Lulu picked up her new pink surfboard. She carried it under her arm as she trudged across the lawn and up over the sand dune.

Lulu stopped at the top of the rise and looked down. Foamy white waves curled and crashed on the sand. The empty beach stretched away to the south. To the north was the soaring headland of Tarni Rocks. Lulu felt her sad mood evaporate.

‘Come on, everyone,' called Lulu. She charged down the sand dune, carrying her surfboard. ‘Hurry up.'

Asha and Jessie bounded down the sand dune, kicking up fine sand with their paws. All the kids raced after them.

It was a ten-minute walk up the beach. Or, for the kids and dogs, a five-minute run. The parents set up camp near the base of Tarni Rocks at the north end. The towels were spread out under the umbrellas and there were camp chairs for the adults. The dogs were tied up in the shade under the chairs.

‘Heaven,' said Mum. She pulled her sundress over her head. ‘I can't wait to get into the water.'

Alison sank back into her chair and opened her book. ‘Just perfect.'

Lulu wriggled into her wetsuit and picked up her surfboard. Dad and Peter checked the surf for rips and dangerous currents. Today the surf was small and the water was safe.

Rosie and Mia ran into the water with their boogie boards. Zac had already had surfing lessons at home at Shelly Beach, so he paddled straight out the back. Peter swam nearby to keep an eye on them all.

‘Okay, Dad,' Lulu said. ‘Let's go.'

‘Not so fast, sweetheart,' said Dad. ‘I want you to practise on the sand.'

‘But I don't want to practise,' said Lulu. ‘I want to surf.'

Dad grinned at Lulu. ‘First things first. It will be easier to jump to your feet in
the water if you've practised a few times on dry land.'

Dad showed Lulu how to lie on her tummy on the surfboard. Gus was too small to have his own surfboard. He practised with Lulu, lying on his tummy on Dad's long fibreglass board. He had his floatie strapped to his back.

‘Pretend you're paddling in the water,' said Dad.

Lulu scrabbled in the sand. Gus copied her.

‘Now put your hands flat on the board just under your chest,' said Dad. ‘Push yourself up with your arms and spring to your feet.'

Dad showed her how it was done. Lulu practised a few times until she could jump from her tummy to her feet in one graceful leap. Gus had lost interest and wandered off to carve roads in the sand with his truck.

‘This is
so
easy, Dad,' said Lulu. ‘When can we try it in the water?'

‘Just be patient, Lulu,' said Dad. ‘Surfing is a lot harder than it looks.'

Lulu practised jumping from her tummy to her feet a few more times.

‘You're coming along beautifully, sweetie,' said Dad, at last. ‘I think it's time to hit the water.'

Lulu grinned. She jumped to her feet and picked up her surfboard. ‘Race you in, Dad.'

Lulu sprinted into the water. There was a leg-rope attached to the board and the other end was strapped to her ankle. The foam fizzed around her legs. The water was chilly on her warm skin.

Lulu lay on her tummy and paddled the board out into deeper water.

Dad had left his board on the sand. He waded out beside her. When they were out far enough, Dad stopped. He waited until he saw a good wave coming, then he pushed Lulu's surfboard hard.

The surfboard flew along the water, carried by the wave. Lulu felt a rush of excitement. She pushed up with her hands and jumped to her feet, but wobbled and fell.

She took a deep breath just before she fell under the wave. Lulu sank, tumbling in the white foamy wash. It was fun doing underwater somersaults.

Lulu kicked and swam to the surface. Her pink surfboard had floated away. Lulu grabbed the leg-rope and pulled it back.

Rosie and Mia went zooming past on their boogie boards. Rosie clung tightly to her board and grinned at her sister.

Lulu climbed back on top of her surfboard. She paddled out the back towards Dad.

‘Good try, sweetie,' said Dad. ‘Let's go again.'

She flashed Dad a smile. ‘This time I'll stand up.'

‘It might take a few tries but you'll get the hang of it,' Dad assured her.

Zac zoomed past, balancing on his surfboard. He hooted with excitement as he rode a wave all the way to the sand. Alison called and waved to him from the shore. Mum was taking photographs with her big camera.

‘Great wave,' called Peter.

‘Well done, Zac,' said Dad.

Lulu gave Zac a thumbs-up. He stepped off the board and onto the sand.

Lulu paddled extra hard. She was determined to stand up and ride the
board to the beach. Dad pushed her onto another wave. She kicked and paddled to get up speed. Then she pushed up with her arms, snatched her feet underneath her and leapt to her feet in a half-crouching, half-standing position.

For a moment she was flying. Her honey-blonde hair streamed out behind her. She held her arms up on either side to help her balance. But the wave lurched and Lulu tumbled off again, cartwheeling into the sea.

Lulu came up for air. She pulled a disappointed face.

‘Never mind, sweetie,' said Dad. ‘Let's have another try.'

Lulu spent the next hour practising. She tried and tried. But every time she leapt to her feet, she soon lost her balance.

 

After a while Mum called them in. She had sculpted a sand spaceship for Gus on the beach. It had a comfy seat, a pointed nose and jet propellers at the back. The control board had dials made of shells and stones. Gus was sitting in the pilot's seat, steering with a stick. Asha and Jessie sat in the back seat.

‘Look, Lulu,' called Gus. He waved madly. ‘We're flying.'

Asha panted in the hot sun. Jessie grinned.

‘Great spaceship, Gussie,' said Lulu. ‘Where are you flying to?'

‘The moon,' said Gus.

‘Enough outer-space travel for one day, honey buns,' said Mum. ‘Let's go home for lunch.'