Chapter 10: Accidents Happen

It was after online learning time and Hibiscus and her husband headed out for their hour of exercise. They would walk for a few kilometres and see children riding their bikes, adults jogging, people out walking their dogs and trees bending in the wind. They heard the siren of police cars chasing the baddies, heard birds singing in the trees and heard the running footsteps of someone keeping fit. As they walked, it began to get darker and the weather got colder, as the sun set. They walked onwards, oblivious to what was happening back at the house with all the Hibiscus clan.

Ellie, Gazza and Dovic were sitting in the loungeroom chatting about things they could do when the restrictions were lifted and The Old Wise One, Tumbarumba and Bruiser were playing with the Lego. Suddenly they heard an ear-splitting growl which made the fur on their backs stand up.

“Wh..wh.. what was that?” Ellie asked, a little bit scared.

“Oh boy. Oh boy.” gasped Gazza while Bruiser, Dovic and Tumbarumba scampered as quick as they could outside, to where they had heard the scream. They stopped suddenly and their eyes opened wide. Bruiser’s paw covered his mouth as he suppressed a growl and behind them, The Old Wise One quietly whispered, “Oh no!”

Dovic ran to Ronnie who was lying very still on the ground with a wooden bridge on top of him. Richo looked scared and cried, “I didn’t mean to. He was playing with the car tracks and I wanted to play footy and I accidentally kicked it and I didn’t mean to. Ronnie was just picking up the pieces to add to the track and the footy hit him and he fell off the table and the piece fell on him and….” Richo’s voice trailed off and tears welled up in his eyes. No one paid any attention to him as everyone was focused on Ronnie.

Ellie and Gazza went over to the piece of bridge lying on top of Ronnie and on the count of three, they both gently lifted it off him, using their trunks. Bruiser called to Ronnie as he’d seen first-aiders do, “Ronnie, can you hear me? Ronnie!” Ronnie groaned and they all let out the breath they’d been holding. Dovic and Tumba carefully picked him up together to carry him inside. Richo began again, “I didn’t mean to…” and still no one paid him any attention. As they carried Ronnie inside, Richo lagged behind, feeling very lonely and scared.

He waited until they had all gone inside, then he picked up his football and began walking away. He didn’t see The Old Wise One watching him and he went and hid. He curled up in a corner, covering himself with the football and cried. He cried long and hard and then he felt a gentle paw on his shoulder. He sobbed, “I didn’t mean to!” and The Old Wise One said, “I know. I know. It was an accident. There, there.” and while Richo continued to cry, The Old Wise One stayed by his side, every now and again whispering words to him that no one else would ever hear.

Inside, the rest of the Hibiscus clan sprung into action. They laid Ronnie on the couch, took his temperature and bandaged up his head. Ronnie moaned and groaned a lot and they kept watch over him. When The Old Wise One and Richo came inside, they all moved away and Richo went over to Ronnie and apologised. More was said between Richo and Ronnie but because Ronnie knew it was a freak accident, he forgave him. Accidents happen and Ronnie knew that better than anyone else. He lived as dangerously as he could, wanting to have adventures and willing to do whatever he could to have fun.

Finally, Tumba called Richo away and they gave Ronnie some time to rest. While they were gone though, Ronnie heard someone say, “To infinity.. and beyond!” and Ronnie opened his eyes wide because it sounded just like, “Buzz Lightyear!!” he exclaimed. He was so excited!! Buzz came over closer and reminded him he needed to rest, “I heard you had an accident so I thought I’d pop over here from the toy box and say hi,” “Wow.” Said Ronnie, “Am I dreaming?” Buzz chuckled and reassured him this was not a dream. He stayed for a few minutes and seeing Ronnie fight off sleep, he said it was time to go, “To infinity…” “And beyond!” added Ronnie who immediately fell into a deep sleep.

When Hibiscus walked in the door, she knew something was amiss. The Hibiscus clan all stood there waiting for her and Richo had his head down as he held the footy. He began to mumble and Hibiscus leaned in closer to hear him. She took his paw in her hand and patted him on the shoulder while he admitted his part in the accident that had befallen Ronnie. Together, Richo and Hibiscus went to check on Ronnie who was sitting up and was quite cheerful despite the bandage around his head. “You will never guess who came to visit me!” he exclaimed impatiently, “Buzz Lightyear!” “No way!” replied Richo. “Yes, he did!” argued Ronnie, “He said he had just popped over from the toy box because he had heard what had happened to me… When he left, he said to infinity and I said, and beyond” and then I went back to sleep." 

“No way!” replied Richo, “You are so lucky!”

By then all the rest of the Hibiscus clan had joined the two friends and they all told Ronnie they were happy to see him looking so much better. When Tumba explained to Ronnie how Ellie and Gazza had helped get the bridge off him, Ronnie thanked them both. Ellie blushed and Gazza gasped, “Oh boy. Oh boy.” Finally Hibiscus came in and shooed them all away as night had fallen and it was time to get a good night’s sleep. “Sweet dreams” she sang and they all chimed in “Good night!”