Bush Secrets by Tjalaminu Mia

Author:Tjalaminu Mia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Published: 2015-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Bush Perfume

‘We’ve arrived!’ Dada Keen says. ‘You can open your eyes now.’

‘Oh!’ I gasp.

Spread out before us is a carpet of wildflowers. Even my favourite ones are there, the donkey and spider orchids. The water from the creek has made them lush and thick. The perfume of the many different flowers blends with the smell of the eucalyptus trees and fills the air.

Dada Keen breathes deeply. ‘It’s a wonderful smell, isn’t it?’

I breathe deeply too. ‘It’s bush perfume.’

‘I knew you’d like it Debbie, you have a heart for the bush.’

We stand there together, not saying anything, just thinking about how lovely it is.

Then on the ground I notice creepers with blue and pink and yellow flowers. Some of them are wound together, one over the other.

‘Dada Keen,’ I say in surprise, ‘look at the colours of those flowers and the way the plants are woven together! They’re just like a double rainbow. Whenever Billy and I see a double rainbow in the sky we always make a wish.’

Dada Keen smiles. ‘I wondered when you’d notice them. They’re very special, Debbie. But they’re so delicate that if you handle them roughly they will shrivel up and die.’

‘Earth rainbow,’ I say in awe. It’s amazing!

‘When the sun comes out after it’s rained, the plants sparkle like diamonds. When the water drips off them it looks like small droplets of rainbow are sinking back into the earth.’

‘That’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it’s very good for the land. You see, these little rainbow plants that lie over the earth are just like the big rainbows in the sky. When I see them, they make me feel happy.’

‘Me too,’ I sigh. ‘Is this a secret place Dada Keen?’

He nods. ‘It sure is! This place and these plants are two of my special secrets, just like Gorgemas and the nest with the speckled eggs are yours. I don’t tell many people because I want to keep this spot safe. But now that I’ve shared them with you Debbie, will you keep my secrets?’

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