Andrew's Stories

The morning sun had barely crept over the horizon when a ruckus echoed through the nursing home grounds. It wasn’t the usual rustle of gum trees or the chirping of birds that disturbed the peace, but something frantic, something out of place. Arnold the piglet, breathless and covered in dust, came barreling through the dry scrub, his tiny hooves pounding the earth. He had run all the way from Tallong, a small settlement to the south, and now stood trembling, his small chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

The commotion stirred Walter from his burrow. The old wombat, who had intended to enjoy his long morning nap after the tense discussions of the previous day, reluctantly pulled himself to the surface. His sharp ears had picked up the sound of panic, and that, Walter knew, was never a good sign. He emerged slowly, blinking in the daylight, his thick fur catching the morning breeze as he lumbered over to where Arnold had collapsed near the water trough.

Bruce, Doreen, and George were already there, watching the piglet with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Fred had flown down, circling above, his sharp eyes darting from Arnold to the horizon, as if sensing more trouble on the way.

Walter cleared his throat as he approached, his gravelly voice cutting through the tense air. “What’s all this, then?” he asked, his wise old eyes fixed on the young piglet. “What’s brought you all the way from Tallong in such a state?”

Arnold, still panting, looked up, his small eyes wide with fear. “It’s Rocky,” he managed between gasps. “I—I saw him. He’s heading south, towards the border. The place where the rogue kangaroos cross over to the greener pastures. He’s planning something.”

Bruce frowned, his muscles tensing at the mention of Rocky’s name. “What is he up to now?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Arnold shook his head, trying to catch his breath. “Rumour has it… he’s offering them free passage north. To here. In return for their votes.”

Walter’s eyes darkened, the full weight of Arnold’s words sinking in. “Votes? For the election?”

Arnold nodded, his small body still trembling from the long run. “That’s what I heard. Rocky’s promising them a way out—safe passage to the north—if they vote for him. He’s trying to bring the rogues up here, to sway the election. And there’s talk of more coming. I overheard it all while I was down by the border.”

The group fell silent. Bruce’s expression grew grim, and Doreen placed a protective paw on Little Bruce, who was nestled in her pouch. George, for once, was silent, his youthful bravado momentarily stilled by the gravity of the news.

“Rogue kangaroos,” Fred squawked, his voice tinged with disbelief. “If they make their way here, the balance will tip in Rocky’s favour. He’ll win the vote by numbers alone.”

Walter, who had been standing still, deep in thought, finally spoke. “This changes everything.” His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency. “Rocky’s always been cunning, but this—this is dangerous. If he brings the rogues up here, they’ll vote in his favour, and the nursing home grounds will fall under his rule. He’ll have power over all of us, and with those rogues on his side, it won’t just be an election. It’ll be a takeover.”

Bruce’s tail twitched with frustration. “What do we do, Walter? We can’t just let him bring them in and steal the vote.”

Walter’s gaze moved from Bruce to Doreen, George, Fred, and finally back to Arnold, who was still recovering from his long journey. “We need to prepare for the worst,” Walter said slowly. “But first, we need to rally the others. The kangaroos who live here—those who’ve called this place home for years. We need to make sure they see what Rocky’s doing. His promises of greener pastures might tempt the rogues, but the others—the locals—they’ll see through him if we’re united.”

Doreen nodded, her face set with determination. “We’ll need to move quickly. The vote’s coming soon, and we don’t have time to waste.”

“Too right,” Fred chirped in, flapping his wings. “Rocky’s got a head start, but we’ve got numbers. If we can hold our ground, we might just stop this before it’s too late.”

Walter’s old eyes glinted in the morning light. “Gather the kangaroos, and make sure they understand what’s at stake. Rocky’s playing a dirty game, but he’s underestimated the strength of this community before. Let’s make sure he underestimates it again.”

And with that, the race against time began. As Arnold rested in the shade, the others scattered, preparing for the coming storm. The peaceful nursing home grounds had become the site of a brewing battle, and the future of the kangaroo community rested on whether they could stand together or fall apart in the face of Rocky’s schemes.