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.

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 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.”




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