GIANT FRIENDS Chapter 9 Especially Good News

Chapter 9  Especially Good News


 Life on Senecia was peaceful. Rain poured down and made the grass lush and green; the sun shone brightly, dried the ground and made everybody cheerful. Most of the time a gentle breeze blew; all the citizens greeted each other pleasantly when they met, and they helped each other whenever things were difficult.

Time passed quickly enough, and before everybody realised, it was time for Komini’s baby to arrive.

In the mansion where Zenix, Shoebill and Victor gathered, a supper was held and the guests of honour were all Komodo dragons. Komini, of course, was treated as the leading lady and was toasted with the best mineral water available. Everybody wished her good luck for having her new little baby boy. Everybody was looking forward to the arrival of little baby King Arthur.

It was two days after and nothing had been heard from the Komodo dragons. But at dinner Shoebill and Zenix were suddenly disturbed by rapid knocking and shouting at the door.

“Zenix!! Shoebill!! Come quickly! I have news!”

Shoebill literally flew to the door. “Welcome friend – tell us the news quickly.”

It was Komodo. “You’ll never guess what. You’ll never guess what!! He came into the kitchen so fast that he upset a chair with his big long tail.

“Calm down! Calm down!” Zenix ordered. “Tell us, is little King Arthur safe, Komodo?”

“It’s not just little King Arthur,” said Komodo, “it’s little King Arthur and his sister!”

“Twins!! She’s had twins?”

“Yes! Now we have little King Arthur and little Aurora.”

“Oh, Aurora? What a beautiful name,” said Zenix, how did you both know what to call your new unexpected little daughter?”

“Well, Komini knew that Aurora was the Goddess of Dawn, the Roman goddess of dawn, and the babies were born at dawn this morning. Also, Aurora refers to light in the sky in astronomy, and this little girl will be one of the bright lights of our lives.”

This calls for a drink,” said Zenix. Komodo, we must toast you as the new father.”

“Just mineral water, mind,” said Komodo. “ I don’t want to be breathing alcoholic fumes over my new babies.”

They had their drink. They were all very happy. After that Komodo hurried away to be with  his wife and his new babies.

 After Komodo left, Zenix and Shoebill discussed gifts for the new babies, then Zenix made an observation.

“You know, Shoebill, everyone takes this alcohol thing so seriously. Komodo won’t even expose his new little babies’ brains to alcoholic fumes from his breath. Perhaps I will make some changes in my own life. Think how this alcohol could be affecting my brain.”

“Very wise, Sir, very wise,” was all Shoebill said.

GIANT FRIENDS--Good News Chapter 8

                                         Good News (for old and new friends.)

Chapter 8


Zenix came inside the house for a welcome cup of tea after filling in the burrow made by Victor.

Shoebill admired the job. “Well, I’m impressed with the great job you’ve done, Zenix. I can hardly see where Victor’s burrow was now,"

“Thank you, my friend.”

Later that day, Shoebill flew down to the markets; but first, he settled by the lagoon to check on Victor. Victor was easy to find, because the large brown mound that was snoring noisily soon drew his attention. Satisfied that his friend was comfortable, he flew on to continue his shopping.

Later, he reported to Zenix, “Our friend has built himself a larger new burrow not far from the lagoon.”

 “I’m pleased,” said Zenix, “that should be a nice cool place to live.”

 Just as Shoebill was clearing away the dishes, there was a knock at the door.

When it was opened, there stood Komodo and Komini. They were smiling broadly and holding hands, just like a young couple who love each other.

“Welcome. Welcome, great friends. It’s wonderful to see you both. We hardly ever see you these days.” said Zenix.

“We have great news, and we want you two to be the first to know.”

“What? What? Sit down and tell us,” Zenix and Shoebill chorused in excitement.

“We are going to have a baby. Our son will be here in six months.”

Both Zenix and Shoebill were taken by surprise.

“Oooh, oooh,” Zenix finally spoke.

“A son? Oh, Congratulations! How exciting. How thrilling!” Shoebill added.

“But...but... how do you know it’s going to be a boy? It’s wonderful news; but mightn’t it be a girl??” Zenix was puzzled.

Komodo waved away his doubts. “Aah, women know these thing’s, Zenix. Komini can tell it’s a boy.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“But the most exciting news of all is what we are going to call him,” Komini added. “He’s going to be called King Arthur.”

“King Arthur??” The bird and the man answered in unison.

“Yes, of course, ‘King Arthur,’ replied Komini. “Komidi was studying King Arthur and the Knights of the round table in her university studies to be a teacher when she gave birth to little Arthur. So we are going to call our baby King Arthur in honour of little Arthur. What do you think?”

Shoebill was quicker to answer this time. “It’s a wonderful name – a really wonderful name,  Komini. And it does little Arthur proud.”

“Oh yes indeed, it does. I congratulate you both and I think you have chosen a very wise name for your expected son.” Zenix added.

And then they all sat down to share glasses of spring water to celebrate.

GIANT FRIENDS Tolerance (Chapter 7)

                                                              TOLERANCE

 Chapter 7 


The next morning when Shoebill entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Zenix and their guest, he noticed something strange outside the window on the ground. He was shocked to see that it was Victor surrounded by small heaps of dirt. He hurried outside.

“Wake-up, wake up, Victor. What are you doing out here on the ground? How did all this dirt get here?”

“Oh, good morning Shoebill. I hope you don’t mind. I wasn’t sure where to sleep so I dug myself a bed out here.”

“But I gave you a bed in the house. – A nice soft bed – where you’d be safe. Didn’t you like the bed I gave you?”

 “Well, actually, I sleep in a hollow in the ground, Shoebill. That’s why I dug this one out here. It was a long way to walk down to the forest where the ants are, and I was hungry for ants. That’s what we aadvaark’s do. This big long snout I have is special for digging. We go out in the night and sleep all day. I’d just dozed off when you work me.”

 “Oh, sorry…”

 Shoebill felt a little embarrassed.

Victor slept soundly all day. Shoebill heard him snoring and grunting in his sleep while he worked around the mansion.

 Once again dinnertime became discussion time.

 “What am I going to do with him, Zenix?“ Shoebill asked his master.

“You know, ShoebillI, I’ve been thinking... Not everybody lives the same way; not everybody needs the same things or likes the same things, even the same food. Perhaps we need to ask Victor if he really thinks our home is convenient enough for him.  He could visit our home whenever he wishes. Perhaps I’ll go and speak with him.”

 So Zenix went out to talk to Victor. “What are you going to do about eating dinner, my friend?”

The sun was just fading in the west as the day was nearly over, and Victor was rubbing his eyes, trying to wake up. “Oh sorry Zenix, what a lovely sleep I had. No no, don’t worry about dinner for me thank you very much. I will get breakfast when I get to the forest. I hope Shoebill is not too upset about me not using his bed, but I was so longing for a sleep in a cool burrow. We nocturnal animals all have the same problem. We are awake when the rest of the world is asleep.”

Zenix thought about things for a few minutes, then he suggested, “Yes, I can see you have quite a dilemma. But this doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Shoebill and I would like you to visit us when ever you can even if you don’t stay here. Would you prefer to live near the lagoon in your own burrow?”

“Oh, you mean you wouldn’t mind if I lived on my own? But I could still come to visit you? Whenever I wanted? Really?”

“Of course! Of course!” Zenix reassured him. “You are welcome to live wherever you are most comfortable, and come to visit any time the whim takes you.”

To the surprise of Zenix, Victor jumped up out of his burrow and rubbed himself on Zenix’s legs. “You two are really something,” he said. “I’m almost a stranger still, and you have been so friendly to me. When I arrived I was so lost and alone. The storm left me almost unable to breathe for a short time. But now I’m so happy. I have found new friends in a new land, and everybody has been so kind. I’ve never seen such tolerance. You are all wonderful!.”

Victor looked up at Zenix with a big smile, then he shook himself and declared, “Man, am I hungry for a few ants. I’d better get going because I’ve got such a lot of work to do. Not only do I have to feed myself, but I’ve grown bigger since I got here and I must dig myself a new burrow near the lagoon. Do you want me to fill this one in before I go, Zenix?”

“No no, good friend. You have a long way to go and much work to be done. Go safely and remember to visit whenever you can, preferably for breakfast.”

Zenix shared the good news with Shoebill.

“Well, Shoebill, looks like we have a hole in the ground to fill in in the morning, and I suspect we’ll have a visitor for breakfast.”

GIANT FRIENDS A Restless Bird (Chapter six)

                                              GIANT FRIENDS. A restless Bird


The Chapter 6

Relieving the anxiety for Zenix settled Shoebill overnight, but the next morning restlessness overtook him. He was not in the kitchen when Zenix came down to breakfast.

Zenix felt quite lost and called out, “Where are you, Shoebill?” Not getting an answer, he wandered outside. “Shoebill?”

 “Oh, sorry Zenix. I’m up here,” he called down from the tallest tree in the grounds.

“Great Scott!!” Zenix was shocked. Shoebill flapped his wings, and landed a little unsteadily on the ground beside Zenix.

“Sorry, Zenix, but it is so long since I did proper flying, I thought I should get more exercise.” He was pink in the face and a little breathless. “Do you know what it feels like to be on top of a tree? It’s so cool up there, and the breeze sways the branches. Oh, I’d forgotten how exhilarating it was.”

 Nevertheless, he hurried back into the kitchen, saying, “ Come along and have your breakfast, Zenix.”

 Over breakfast, Zenix raised the matter again. “Shoebill, if you are worried about not getting enough exercise, perhaps you should fly down to the woods with me when I go would cuttng. You could explore through the treetops.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t have time for that, Zenix, I have to get to the market, buy food and prepare lunch. Still, I’d consider flying down with you and going on to do my shopping.”

After Shoebill left Zenix that morning at the forest, he didn’t go directly to the market, but flew instead down to the green-edged lagoon where many birds had gathered to drink fresh water after the storm. The babble of calls was almost deafening, but they were mostly strangers to Shoebill. It wasn’t long before his attention was distracted by an odd looking animal on the lagoon’s edge who looked very meek and shy and was keeping to himself.

This stranger looked so forlorn, that Shoebill was persuaded to approach him. “Are you okay, young stranger?” he asked.

 “Oh, I’m lost. When the storm struck I was carried up so high by an updraft of air, and when I came down I found myself here, near this lagoon. I was pleased to feel solid ground under my feet again, but I don’t know where I am and I want to go home.”

 “Well, this is a terrible dilemma for you and we can’t let it go on. Now, what is your name?”

 “I’m Victor the aardvark, and I can’t see any of my family here. Have you seen my mum and dad?”

“It’s just possible you’ve been blown here from planet Earth. This is Senecia. But I’m sure you’d be happy here. Fact is, young Victor, there’s really no way home again. You must come home with me and meet Zenix. We will look after you. By the way, what do aardvarks eat?”

 “Ants.”

“Ants! Oh, you can’t live on ants. You poor thing. No, that won’t do at all.”

“Oh, I love ants. That’s all we aardvark’s eat. I must have my ants. Actually, the ants around here are huge. I’ve had trouble getting them down my throat!”

Everything around here is huge, I guess you’d noticed, because in Senecia the air is so sweet and healthy and everything is so fresh and nutritious, that everybody grows twice as big. It’s a land of giants.”

“Oh, I’m so frightened. Please just leave me here. I don’t want to meet any more giants. But will you come back and see me? And talk to me?”

“Of course I will. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Shoebill hurried through the shopping and at dinner that evening he and Zenix discussed the problem of Victor the aardvark.

The next morning they both arrived at the Lagoon straight after breakfast. Zenix sat down on the ground beside Victor and shook his hand, though he had some trouble finding it to shake.

Victor had been just settling down to sleep, and he scrambled up getting a terrible fright. “Relax, Victor,” Shoebill said, “We are your friends. We’re here to help you.”

 “I can’t help admiring your fine long ears, Victor,” Zenix commented by way of encouragement. “And your strong tail, something like a kangaroo’s tail I should think.”

Victor was surprised and pleased. “Oh, do you really think so? Most creatures laugh at me.”

 “No no,” Zenix told him.  “No one here will laugh at you. Everybody is different, Victor. Everybody is different to somebody. This is a very tolerant society. We practise tolerance all the time. Why don’t you come and live with Shoebill and me for a time? Do you think you could live without your mum and dad?”

 “Well, I think so; I was just about to leave home anyway. So I guess this could be my new home if it all worked out. But I don’t want to be in your way. And you are both so much taller than me.”

 “It’s just possible, my friend, that you will grow twice as big living here,” Shoebill put in.


 “I’ll stay then!” Victor decided happily.

UPDATE to Giant Friends (5) The Storm

 Friends, for those of you who have read book 5 of Giant Friends, my last book, you may need to read it again as I have revisited it to make it less shocking for children. Thank you for reading. Giddy

GIANT FRIENDS (The Storm) Chapter 5

 All children and sentimental adults should read this story with a mentor because it deals with death and alcohol.


                                                GIANT FRIENDS (The Storm)
Chapter 5

After the children ran off to play in the maze in Cosy Dell, Shoebill and Zenix sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Not 10 minutes later they both yelled and jumped from their chairs as the loudest crack of thunder they had ever heard burst on their ears like a whip cracking. The children!

As they flung open the door, a terrible scene appeared before them. Not only had the whole sky become black and ominous, but wind was starting to create little eddies in the sand around Cosy Dell. Small branches were torn from the trees with a guest of wind. as big spots of rain plopped on their faces and the little dragons crawled frantically to get out of the maze.

“Wait here!” Zenix instructed Shoebill, as he took off running in the direction of the children. Gathering the three of them into his arms he ran for Komidi’s cave. Shoebill watched from the kitchen window as the rain became heavier and filled the damp air with a thick musty smell.

 Zenix hugged the three little dragons close as his clothes became saturated, but he continued running with his big long strides to get them home safely as quickly as he could.. About 100 m from the cave he came across Kojak and Komidi running towards him to find their youngsters. Their worried faces quickly turned to relief.

Zenix returned to his mansion, where Shoebill fussed over him, bringing dry clothes, tut-utting about pneumonia, and putting on a fresh pot of coffee.

As the great storm abated the two retired to bed, but in the morning a disturbing scene awaited them.

                                                    --0--

 Shoebill was appalled at the damage to trees and the mess in the lovely grounds of the mansion. He woke Zenix early, and the two friends assessed the aftermath.

 “Well Shoebill, there will be no woodcutting today. Today is for tidying up the grounds. If you can take care of the smaller scattered rubbish, I will shift the limbs,” and they got to work.

 By mid-afternoon the grounds were looking reasonably restored, and the exhausted giant and his devoted manservant sat down for welcome refreshments.

 When Shoebill answered a caller at the door they were surprised to see Komodo standing  there, and looking rather forlorn.

As he sat at their table he put his head down on his arms and groaned. “ Oh, I am distraught. A terrible thing has happened to poor little Arthur.”

Zenix  and Shoebill were shocked to hear what had befallen the littlest Dragon.

 They were told that when Kojak and Komidi reached the cave where they lived, they put their three offspring down at the mouth of the cave, but without warning, the littlest one, Arthur, took off running towards a large water puddle further down the hill.


Komidi was preparing to go after him, when a chunk of the cave roof collapsed under the weight of a large pool of water and a great gush cascaded into the cave and rushed down the hill in a torrent. The onslaught was too much for Arthur. He became overwhelmed as the puddle became a dam and overflowed. Swirling around in the water helplessly amid rocks and debris, he could not breathe. By the time his parents reached him, it was too late.

Shocked at the news of little Arthur’s death, Zenix became depressed  Shoebill held up his wings in despair. “Oh, come on, Zenix! Getting ill won’t help the children now! And drinking that bean brew won’t help either.” Zenix was trying to drown his sorrows.

He could eat no dinner, and drank only coffee for breakfast. Shoebill was concerned but could only watch helplessly as his master and great friend sunk deeper into despair.

Shoebill tried to be philosophical, “Look, Zenix, the little fellow didn’t suffer any pain. Think of him as just having a long sleep. You are neglecting the other children, too. Sad things happen every day and we must do our mourning and get on with life. Think of how much help you could be to Kojak and Komidi who must be grieving.”

 Then he had a better idea to help Zenix, “Why don’t you go and visit them and ask if there is anything you can do, and while you’re about it you can take this bottle of preserves.”

Zenix grumbled, “Oh, well I will then, even if it’s just to get you off my back, Shoebill!”

To his surprise, Komidi and Kojak greeted him with a big hug and a kiss. “Oh, Zenix, we’ve missed you.”

And Kozy and Koko ran to him, shouting, “Mr Giant! Mr Giant!”Soon they were all enjoying coffee, lemonade and little cakes.

“When are you coming back to play in the maze?” Zenix asked the children.

“Oh, please can we come today?” Koko asked.

“Of course, and I think it might be time I make up some new games for you, children.”

That night when Shoebill and Zenix sat down to their supper, Zenix remarked, “You know, Shoebill, I don’t think alcohol is the answer when a person has problems.”

Shoebill simply answered, “Very wise, Sir.”




.

GIANT FRIENDS Chapter 4 (The Day after the Wedding).

                                            The Day after the Wedding.
Chapter 4


“Well Shoebill, I think we can say, overall, the wedding was a success.”

“Zenix, I was wondering, do you think we are a bit weird?”

“What do you mean, Shoebill?”

“Well, just a remark Komodo made. I never thought aboutf it before… But…”

“What? What did he say?”

“He said, 'You two are weird', and when I asked him what he meant, he said, ‘a man – humanlike, and a bird. That’s weird’ Do you think it’s weird, Zenix?”

“Does it matter, Shoebill? Does it matter what Komodo thinks?”

“I guess not. I’m happy here, I know that. But I guess some people do think we are weird.”

“Shoebill, if we are happy it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Everybody is weird to somebody else. The fact is our circumstances are very different. You came to me as an injured youngster from a storm, and we bonded right from the beginning. I love you very dearly, Shoebill, and would do anything to protect you. I’m confident you respect and love me too; therefore whatever anyone else thinks is irrelevant.”

“Oh, I feel so much better now.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

“And since you raised the subject of the wedding, Zenix, I must say I admire the way you handled those children.”

“Oh, it was just a matter of keeping them busy. The devil makes work for idle hands, you know, Shoebil”

Just then they were interrupted by a timid knock at the door and a child’s voice asked, “Are you there, Mr Giant?”

To their surprise it was Koko, the eldest boy of Komini’s sister’s children.

Zenix jumped up and greeted him, “Koko, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. What can I do for you?”

“Could we play in the maze again please, Mr Giant?”




“Play? You want to play? In the maze? But I thought…”

“Oh yes please. We love the maze, Mr Giant.”

“But you were there for two hours. I thought you were lost.”

“Oh no, Mr Giant, we love the rocks in the maze. We made a cubby house too, and we loved climbing on the rocks. I could jump from one to the other sometimes. And the shade was cool, too. It was a real cool maze, Mr Giant.”

Koko looked up at Zenix appealingly, “My sister, Kozy and my little brother are here too. Please can we play again?”

“Oh, yes, of course you may. So you weren’t lost at all? Well, I am surprised. Anyway, what is your little brother’s name?”

“He’s Arthur. Come on,  Kozy. Come on, Arthur.”

Zenix turned around just in time to see Shoebill trying to straighten his face after laughing to himself.

“Too late! Shoebill, you should be ashamed of yourself. It’s too late to cover your face with your wing feathers. I saw you laughing at me.”

Then Zenix added, “Now, is that any way for a manservant to behave?” But he couldn’t help is face from breaking into a big smile. “Okay I was wrong! I didn’t realise Koko and the others were just bored. They just needed a little direction to keep them occupied, and accidentally I’ve given them some. I guess it’s been a learning experience for us all.”

Then Shoebill remarked, “We’d better keep an eye on that storm, Zenix, it’s coming up rather black overhead. We don’t want the children getting wet.”