Oban's Myths & Legends
Kangaroo gets a pouch (continued)
They
headed towards the waterhole with Wombat holding onto Mother Kangaroo's
tail and grumbling all the way.
When they reached the waterhole there
was Joey asleep under a shady gumtree. Mother Kangaroo bounded over
to him.
"That's right. Just leave me standing here
all alone not able to see," yelled Wombat.
Mother Kangaroo nudged Joey to wake him and crouched down so he could climb onto her back. Then she saw men coming
towards the waterhole carrying spears. They were
hunting something for their dinner.
"Quickly, we have to hide! Hunters are coming.
Grab my tail," Mother Kangaroo called to Wombat. They
rushed towards the bushes with Wombat complaining
as he hung onto the tail and bounced up and down.
Hiding in the bushes, Joey dug his little paws into his mother's fur, holding on as tightly as he could.
"I'm scared," said frightened Joey.
"Shh, it will be
all right dear," said his mother softly.
When the hunters had passed Mother Kangaroo looked around for grouchy
old Wombat, but he wasn't there. He had turned into Father of all Creatures.
He explained to Mother Kangaroo that he had disguised himself as a wombat
and come down from his sky world to find the kindest animal in this
land.
"And the kindest animal is you Mother Kangaroo.
Even when you were worried about your Joey
you were still kind to a grumpy complaining old wombat."
He took some bark from a tree and handed it to Mother Kangaroo. "Now, I am going to give you a special present. Tie this bark around your waist."
Mother Kangaroo tied the bark around her waist,
and it turned into the pouch that all female kangaroos
have today.
"Now you somewhere to keep Joey from wandering
off, and when he gets frightened he has some where
to hide.
Joey climbed into his mother's pouch "This
is really cool. Can I have friends over to
visit?" asked
Joey.
Mother Kangaroo thanked the Father of
all Creatures. "This
is a very special present, but I feel sad
for all the other animals who don't have a pouch
for their children."
"You are definitely the kindest animal," said the Father of all Creatures.
Because of Mother Kangaroo's kindness, all female marsupials have a pouch to carry
their babies and young children.
The End
