Chapter 9: A Saturday Surprise!

 

The Hibiscus Clan sat in front of the window, looking out at the rain and watching pebbles of hail bounce off the path. Even though it was morning, the sky was dark and foreboding and at times, the thunder roared deeply, shaking the whole house. Dovic had never seen lightning and hail before, had never heard the thunder roll and he wasn’t sure that he liked any of it. He looked at Tumba and The Old Wise One and they seemed to be lost in their own thoughts as they looked outside. Ronnie sat on the other side of TOWO and was a bit fidgety and Dovic wondered if Ronnie felt the same.

Suddenly he felt a breeze behind him and turned around to see that Ronnie had jumped up and was spinning around, doing cartwheels. “I don’t know where he gets his energy from!” exclaimed Tumba and The Old Wise One looked at him and quietly said, “You don’t remember when you used to do things like that?” Tumba smiled sheepishly and thought back to his times at the Bear Café in Tumbarumba when he and his friend Joe used to flip off shelves, spin across the room and race each other, until Pa Jumbo would growl warningly at them. It surprised him that they never broke anything.

Hibiscus tipped the Lego on to the floor and they all began building. Richo picked out all the black and yellow pieces and sat there trying to look busy, but he didn’t make anything and held tight to his football. Dovic knew Richo would rather be outside playing footy and found it frustrating that he had to stay inside because it was too wet outside to play. Bruiser, The Old Wise One and Dovic tried to build houses while Tumba sat beside Ronnie trying to think of something to make. He gave up when Ronnie did a headstand in the Lego tub. He shuffled the Lego pieces around, picked up a few and put them back in the tub. Ronnie let out a loud sigh, “I’m bored!” and Bruiser agreed, “It’s always raining!” “And it’s cold and sloshy out in the backyard,” added Dovic.

Tumba led them back over to the couch and handed The Old Wise One a book called, “Andy and Terry’s Amazing Inventions”. TOWO turned the book over and Tumba said, “Maybe it will give me some ideas of what to make with Lego” and Richo and Bruiser chuckled. Bruiser sat close to help TOWO turn the pages and to keep the book steady. The Old Wise One, was very old and he often found it difficult to hold on to things. As they listened to different inventions, they also used their imaginations to think of things they could invent. Ronnie blurted out, “What if we make an automatic spinning box, that you get inside and shut the door and you tumble round and round?” “You mean, like a dryer?” sniggered Bruiser. “What if we made a machine that you put the football in, press the button and it catapults through the goal posts?” suggested Richo. “Sorta like a cannon?” asked Tumba and they all stopped talking and went quiet, realising their ideas weren’t very original at all.

When there was a knock at the door, no one paid any attention. The postie regularly came these days during the restrictions, as it was sometimes the only way you could buy things. You would browse the shop online, order and pay and then wait for it to be delivered or go to a place that had signs that said, “Click and Collect”. Some days you only got to see the people in your household. Even the postman would knock on the door and leave before it was answered. “I miss seeing people come over and visit,” said Tumba, “We used to have people over and get to eat yummy food. They would laugh and play music and it was so good!” “I miss Buzz Lightyear” shouted Ronnie, “To infinity and beyond!” and Richo laughed and said, “You don’t know Buzz Lightyear”. “Yes, I do!” retorted Ronnie. “No, you don’t” argued Richo and he handballed the footy at Ronnie, just as Ronnie did a handstand. He lost his balance and lay flat on his back. “Oops. Did you break any bones?” asked Bruiser. Ronnie laughed and jumped up, “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m just a ball of fluff and stuff!”

Just then, Hibiscus came into the room and placed a new member of the clan next to Dovic who exclaimed joyously, “Gazza!!!!” and gave him a big hug. “Oh boy, oh boy!” gasped Gazza and Dovic introduced his friend to the rest of the Hibiscus clan. They were all excited to meet him, especially Ellie who was happy to have a friend who looked like her. Dovic asked for news of his other friends but Gazza said he left not long after Dovic had gone. His trip had taken so much longer because the flight had been delayed and then there were quarantine issues and changes in regulations and so on. He was just glad to have finally arrived!

Not long after, Hibiscus brought in some decorations and declared they were having a party to welcome Gazza. The music was turned on, everyone danced and laughed and ate party food. They all had so much fun together as they celebrated Gazza being there. “To old friends and new friends!” declared Tumba and Ronnie added, “To infinity and beyond!” and everyone laughed. Later, when all was quiet, Dovic went and sat beside Gazza. “I’m so glad you’re here!” he said quietly. “Oh boy, oh boy. Me, too” Gazza replied, “Me, too.”