A STRANGE WOMBAT STORY

Wilfred the wombat woke up early one night and said to the other wombats, Why do we have such skinny holes? Our burrows are too tight! Why can’t we make them bigger? Really wide? Why not?

We have always done it that way. If it’s good enough for us, it’s good enough for you. What’s more it would be too much extra work, all that more digging.

One night Wilfred got up early and dug his walls wider. He was so happy, with lots more room, so much more space. I like interior space and a lot more air, he said.

One of the other wombats said, Must be a lot of space between your ears. You are not a normal hairy nose wombat. You’re an air head wombat. What’s more said another wombat, If a snake gets into your burrow, you wont be able to squash it against the wall or roof to kill it.

I will just chase the snake out. Live and let live: I say.

You’re strange. Very strange.

One night Wilfred got up early and said, Why don’t we all go off and find a better place with more space? This valley is very narrow. It’s cramped. It does not let in much moonlight. We could find a broad wide big view place.

Oh no, they said. We are all happy here.

One night Wilfred got up early and said, I’ve got a new friend. She agrees with me. We are going off to find a new place with lots of space. My friend? Enid the anteater.

A wombat friends with an ant eater? You are very strange.

One night Wilfred and Enid got up early and went off in the moonlight to find a place, where they would feel free.

They had lots of adventures: too many to tell: like crossing the river on a friendly-vegetarian-eating-crocodile’s back.

One night all the other wombats got up early and made such a noise by talking so loudly about what ever happened to that odd couple Wilfred and Enid. They talked so loudly they woke up Yellow Bird.

Yellow Bird said, I have seen them. I will tell you. They live in a very big wombat burrow on the side of a hill with a wide view. On a full moon clear sky night, they can see all the way to the bay and the moonlight on the bay.

Oh, said the other wombats. That’s strange.

And what’s more, said Yellow Bird, Would you believe this? Some old bats thought their burrow was a cave. It is so BIG. The bats have moved in also.

Oh we don’t like that sort; no, no, no. said the wombats.

Yes, said Yellow Bird, I agree; but what seems funny to me is ENID AND WILFRED ARE HAPPY. That is strange.

After that strange news, all the wombats went off to sleep.

© Ian Higgins, 2009