The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
Beginning
Once a jolly creature lived by a billabong, under the shade of a coolibah
tree.
Actually, he wasn't very jolly at all. He did love living by his billabong,
and he loved lounging in the shade of the coolibah tree, but he felt that
something was missing.
"I'm lonely", thought the Creature. "Perhaps it's time for me to leave the
billabong and find some friends".
So that's just what he did.
----------------------------Where should the Creature go from here?
To the Rainforest
To the River
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
To the RAINFOREST
In the Rainforest the Creature found a small animal up in the trees.
"Hello!", said the Creature. "Who are you?"
"Hello!", said the small animal. "I'm Purruku, the tree frog. I live in the
trees, catching insects for my dinner with my long tongue. I have long
fingers which are good for gripping the trees. I have very smooth skin,
which means I don't mind the rain. Who are you?"
"I don't know!", answered the Creature. "I have smooth skin like yours,
so perhaps I am a tree frog!"
"Perhaps you are!", said Purruku.
"Would you like to come with me?", asked the Creature.
"Certainly!", answered Purruku.
----------------------------Where should they go from here?
To the Grass
To the Trees
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
TO THE RIVER:
In the river, the Creature spied a very fast creature swimming about.
"Hello!", said the Creature. "What are you doing?"
"Hello!", said the swimmer. "I'm a platypus. My name is Kapi-kapi. I'm
building my nest under the water. Soon, I will lay my eggs and when they
hatch, the baby platypuses and I will live here by the water. There's
nothing I like better than swimming! Who are you?"
"I don't know!", answered the Creature. "I live by the billabong, and I
love swimming too, so perhaps I am a platypus!"
"That could be true", said Kapi-kapi. "I will not lay my eggs for a while.
Shall I come with you?"
"Please do", answered the Creature.
----------------------------Where should they go from here?
To the Grass
To the Trees
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
TO THE GRASS
When they reached the grass, they saw a beautiful red animal bouncing
high into the sky.
"Hello!", said the Creature. "That's a lovely bounce you have!"
"Why, thank you", said the animal. "My name is Marlu and I'm a
kangaroo. Bouncing is the only way to travel!"
"It looks like fun", said the Creature. "I want to try!" They all tried
bouncing around in the grass. The Creature bounced quite high, and when
he landed, he hit the ground with a mighty *THUMP!
"That wasn't too bad", said Marlu. "I see that you have long legs like
mine."
"So I do", said the Creature. "I wonder if I am a kangaroo."
"You might be!", said Marlu. "Shall we bounce off together?"
"Let's!", answered the Creature.
----------------------------Where should they go from here?
To the Gully
To the Trees
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
TO THE TREES
Up in the trees, the Creature spied a very happy animal.
"Hello!", said the Creature. "Why are you so happy?"
"I'm Winingarli, a kookaburra", answered Winingarli. "Hahahaha! Oh,
the world is a marvelous place! It's all so funny, ahahahah!"
Winingarli's laughter was infectious, and soon the Creature was laughing
too. He laughed so hard he had to hold his sides and roll around on the
ground.
"Oh! Hahahaha!", said the Creature, wiping happy tears from his eyes. "I
see what you mean! I love laughing too. Perhaps I am a kookaburra!
Would you like to come with us?"
"Why not! It could be a laugh." answered Winingarli.
----------------------------Where should they go from here?
To the Grass
To the Gully
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
TO THE GULLY
As the Creature entered the gully, he felt a sharp prick in the bottom of
his foot.
"Ouch!", said the Creature. "Oh I'm sorry!", he said, for he realised that
he had stepped on a small, prickly animal.
"That's all right", said the animal."You didn't hurt me. I'm an echidna. My
name is Kirtkirtpa. My long spines protect me. I also have this lovely
long nose, which helps me find lots of ants and other insects for my
dinner."
"That is a lovely long nose", said the Creature. "You know, I have a long
nose too. Maybe I am an echidna!"
"Maybe you are", said Kirtkirtpa. "May I join you?"
"Of course!", answered the Creature.
----------------------------Where should they go from here?
To the Rainforest
To the Grass
The Big Discovery
Story and pictures by Amanda Penrose
http://www.fraynework.com.au/story/stories/index.html
TO THE CAVE
The Creature and his new friends entered the cave to find a very strange
animal. The animal was touching the wall with something wet on his
fingers and leaving pretty patterns behind.
"That's very beautiful", said the Creature. "What is it?"
"It's a painting,", said the strange animal. "I am Nintilumarta, a human. I
paint the rocks to tell stories."
"Oh how wonderful!", said the Creature. "I see... there's a painting of
Marlu, and there's one of Winingarli!"
The animals crowded close to the wall, pointing and whispering with
wonder. They all complimented Nintilumarta on his work.
"I do love stories!", said the Creature. "Perhaps I am a human."
"Hahaha", laughed Nintilumarta. "You're not a human. Don't you know
what you are?"
"He's a platypus", said Kapi-kapi.
"He's an echidna", said Kirtkirtpa.
"Actually", said Nintilumarta, "You're a bunyip!"
"A bunyip!", they all exclaimed.
"Oh thank you!", said Bunyip. "Now I know what
I am! But, if I am a bunyip, then why is it that I
have legs like Marlu's, a nose like Kirtkirtpa's, a
laugh like Winingarli's, skin like Purruku's, and
can swim like Kapi-kapi?"
Nintilumarta smiled. "We all have something in
common," he said. "If you look closer you'll find
lots of similarities between you all."
"He's right!", said Bunyip. "We may all look different, but inside we're all
the same. That's why we have become such good friends."
The animals all started talking at once. Marlu saw that she had fur like
Kapi-kapi. Purruku and Kirtkirtpa realised they both loved eating insects
for dinner. Winingarli and Nintilumarta started laughing together, and
soon everyone joined in.
"Let's all go back to the billabong together", said Bunyip. "We can sing
songs together while I boil us some tea." And that's just what they did.
THE END