Awatea and the Kawa Gang by Fraser Smith

Author:Fraser Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Huia (NZ) Ltd
Published: 2019-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

8

Flip-top’s Retreat

Awa was a bit annoyed that Flip-top Head was still ensconced at his end of the beach. “Aren’t you hungry yet, Flip-top?” he yelled from a safe distance.

The leopard seal raised its head, and Awa raised his shanghai. His stone bounced and clattered among the boulders. Another head lifted to look his way.

“Grrrr, zealots!” Carrot wasn’t impressed either.

“We’d better be landlubbers today, Carrot. I don’t trust those flip-tops. They must’ve eaten so much they don’t need to hunt. We should stay outa the water till they sleep it off.”

They wandered back to the Rumbles’ cabin. Smoke drifted hazily through the macrocarpa branches. Awa stomped and shuffled his sandy feet on the steps and boards of the verandah to clean them, and Ma Rumble came to the door.

“Awatea. Come in. It’s nearly lunchtime, where have you been? And where is that Tredget?”

“Hello, hello, hello,” said Carrot.

“And hello to you, pretty bird.”

“I haven’t seen Tredget this morning. I’ve been down the beach.”

“You look like you’ve been shipwrecked. I can’t let your grandmother see you in this state. Sit down. Carrot, bed. Have some scones, dear, and then a wash, then lunch. Then we’d better get you over to your Nan. She’s been worried about you.”

Awa sighed. “Civilisation,” he grumbled.

“I’m going to build a fire under the copper. You need hot water now!”

Ma Rumble spread butter on some date scones, and put a plate of them in front of Awa. She poured him tea from the pot with the pompom tea cosy, added milk and left him to it.

“What do you think, Carrot?” he asked. “Do we need civilisation?”

“Poop!” said Carrot. “Whoopsie poop!” He splattered his poop tray.

Awa laughed as he enjoyed his scones. “Poop,” he said. “And double poop!”

He heard Pa Rumble’s cart rattling off towards the beach as Ma came back in.

“You can get into the bath. There’s hot water, soap, a towel, a change of clothes and a hairbrush! You and Tredget both go wild as soon as I turn my back.”

“I’ve been washing in the sea.”

“Well, now you need a good rinse.” Ma Rumble had her hands on her hips and her chest out. She shook her head and ruffled his tangled hair.

“Look out!” said Carrot.

“OK,” said Awa.

In the wash house Awa noticed his legs were crusted with salt from Tangaroa. He reluctantly washed all over, brushed his hair and came back to the kitchen in clean clothes.

“Hello, hello,” said Carrot conversationally.

“Clean as a new day, Awatea. Now you sparkle like your name,” said Ma.

She dished out boiled mutton, pūhā, onions and dumplings. Awa was surprised he was still hungry.

“Thanks for looking after that cantankerous bird,” Ma said.

“He helps look after me, Ma Rumble.”

“You are welcome to him any time,” she said. “Sometimes he’s too much for me and Pa. Now go and show your Nan and Pop you are still in one piece. Leave your dirty clothes here, and I’ll throw them in the copper.”

Awa wandered down the beach to Nan and Pop’s bach on his own. The Kawa Gang HQ seemed a long way away.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.