Lulu Bell and the Sea Turtle
Read Lulu Bell and the Sea Turtle Online
Authors: Belinda Murrell
Meet Lulu Bell. Where there's Lulu, there's family, friends, animals and adventures galore!
Lulu and her family are setting off on an adventure a long way from home. Mum has been invited to visit an Aboriginal community to choose paintings for an art show.
Lulu, Rosie and Gus have lots of fun swimming and fishing with their new friends. But there is one thing Lulu would really like to see. Can wishing upon a star help her dream come true?
For Maureen, Frank and Ashley, and all the Gambanan kids â Keelan, Manton, Pot, Marika, Karen, Maureen, Liam, Isiah, Selwyn, and Hakim. Thank you!
Exciting News
It was dinnertime and the Bell family was seated around the kitchen table. Mum had made lemon roast chicken, roast vegetables and crunchy green salad. It was one of Lulu's favourite meals.
âMmmm,' said Lulu. âThis is delicious. Thanks, Mum.'
âDulishus,'
agreed her little brother Gus. He popped a whole roast potato into his mouth. His cheeks bulged as he chewed.
âThanks, honey buns,' said Mum. âI'm glad you're enjoying it. I thought we should celebrate. I had some
very
exciting news today.'
Dad grinned. âWe love exciting news. Don't we, kids?'
âI have been asked to organise a very special art show for the local gallery,' said Mum.
Lulu's mum Chrissie was an artist. She created the most wonderful paintings. Her work was sold at several galleries.
âThat's great,' said Dad. âWhat's the art show about?'
Mum smiled. Her cheeks were pink with delight. âIt is a collection by Aboriginal artists from the far north of Western Australia,' she explained. âIt will be the first time their work has been shown here.'
Mum glanced around the table at the family. âI've been asked to fly over there to meet the artists. I have to interview them about their work and decide on a theme. Then I'll choose the artworks and organise for them to be shipped over.'
Lulu felt a little flutter of nerves. Mum was going away.
Who would look after them while Dad was at work? Who would look after Gus while they were at school?
âThat
is
exciting,' said Dad. âWhen do you have to go?'
Mum gave a big grin. âI've asked the gallery owner if I can go next week. It's the school holidays then. That means you can all come with me. It will be an amazing adventure.'
âWe're going to Western Australia for the holidays?' cried Lulu. That
did
sound like an adventure.
âWill we go on a plane?' asked Lulu's younger sister Rosie.
âAsha and Jessie come too?' added Gus. The two dogs pricked up their ears at the sound of their names. Jessie gave a big doggy smile. She was always keen for an adventure.
Mum laughed. âNo, the dogs can't come with us, honey bun.' She turned to Rosie. âYes, we will go on a plane. We'll fly to Broome. It's on the north coast of Western Australia. Then we'll drive about two hundred kilometres further north to a tiny Aboriginal community called Ardyaloon.'
Dad rubbed his chin. âIt's a long way to go,' he said. âAnd we'd have to find someone to look after the vet hospital.'
Dad was a vet. The family lived right behind Shelly Beach Veterinary Hospital.
âPlease, Dad?' begged Lulu. âCan we go? Kylie could feed all the animals.'
Dad thought about it. âShe certainly could. And I could ask Dr Humphrey to see the patients for me.' Kylie was the vet nurse, and Dr Humphrey was a retired vet who sometimes helped out.
Dad grinned. âLet's do it!'
âHurray,' cried Lulu, Rosie and Gus together.
âWhere will we stay?' asked Lulu.
âI spoke to Harry today. He's one of the Aboriginal elders,' said Mum. âHe invited us to camp on his family's property. Their land is on the beach just west of Ardyaloon.'
Lulu jiggled with excitement.
âI'll have to work for a few days. But we'll also make it a lovely family holiday. We can go swimming and boating and explore the islands,' said Mum.
âAnd fishing and watching wildlife,' added Dad. âWe might even get to see saltwater crocodiles or sea turtles.'
âIt
will
be an amazing adventure!' agreed Lulu. âI can't wait.'
The Journey
Lulu thought the holidays would never come. The last week of school seemed to take forever.
Finally it was Saturday morning. Dad woke them all early. Gus yawned and pulled his Bug Boy mask down over his face.
Lulu was excited but a little sad too. It was hard to say goodbye to all the pets. She cuddled Flopsy the rabbit in the garden. She fed the four ducklings.
Then she went inside and crawled under her bed. The family cats, Pickles and Pepper, were hiding there.
The dogs were most unhappy. Asha was sulking on her bed. Lulu hugged her. Asha wiggled her tail the tiniest bit.
âIt's okay, girl,' said Lulu. âWe'll be back soon.'
Jessie sat by the door and drooped. She was usually the smiliest dog in the world. But not today.
âDon't worry, sweetheart,' said Dad to Lulu. âKylie will take good care of them all.'
Nanna and Gumpa came to drive them to the airport. Gumpa helped Dad pack the bags in the car. Lulu could only take what she could fit in her backpack.
Then they were off. Nanna and Gumpa dropped them out the front of the airport. Everyone kissed and waved. Nanna gave Lulu a super-big hug.
âHave fun, my darling Lulu,' whispered Nanna. âI'll miss you.'
âI'll miss you too, Nanna.' Lulu could feel a lump in her throat.
âGoodbye. Love you. See you soon,' Mum called to her parents.
Mum held Gus tightly by the hand in the airport. Soon they were on the plane. Lulu clicked on her seatbelt. Rosie wriggled beside her.
The flight took hours. The cabin crew brought around breakfast on trays. There were lots of little packages to open. Lulu ate fruit salad and yoghurt and a warm omelette. Dad, Lulu and Rosie watched movies on a small screen
on the back of the seat. Gus slept. Then they ate lunch. At last the plane began to descend. Lulu could see a vast blue ocean shining below.
As they walked off the plane in Broome, the heat hit Lulu like a wave. It was humid and sticky.
Their first stop was to pick up the car. Mum had organised to rent a big four-wheel drive. It towed a low camper trailer. This was to be their home for the next week.
Their second stop was the shopping centre. Everyone helped do the grocery shopping. Then it all had to be packed away in the trailer. Finally the family and their gear were loaded in the car.
âOnly another three hours to go,' said Mum. âArdyaloon, here we come.'
The road north was rough, rutted red dirt. On either side grew thick green scrub. Overhead arched a sky of deepest blue. Lulu had never felt so far from home.
It was a long, bumpy drive. Rosie and Gus fell asleep. Lulu read her book. It was early evening when they finally arrived.
Mum turned the car onto a sidetrack. A sign beside the gate read âGoorlil'.
âHere it is,' cried Mum. âGoorlil. It means “turtle” in the local Bardi language.'
Lulu shivered with excitement.
What adventures would they find at Goorlil?