Maureen and Archie quickly crawled their way through the thick tall grass in the clearing. Although they were crawling at the same speed, Maureen seemed to be going faster, determined to lead the way.
“Well, come along Archie, you have to face up to it!” she bellowed over her shoulder at her glum partner.
Maureen was a koala of traditional looks, her arms legs and belly all in the plump natural proportions of her species, which she always had a secret pride about.
Archie however looked like his body didn’t enjoy being a koala, it was wiry and bony in the joints, his fur seemed to clump disproportionally to the left side of his body when he moved his right side and vice versa when he moved his left. His face was wrinkled with regret.
“Violet” yelled Maureen, her ears standing up like two radar dishes searching for a response. Archie’s whole head was bowed searching the ground in remorse.
“Perhaps she is not here” offered Archie’s sullen voice.
“Of course, she’s here, poor woman. Help me Archie! Violet!” her voice trumpeted out to the other side of the clearing. She suddenly stopped as a little lady koala quietly pushed back some grass to reveal her small frame, the last of a leaf disappeared from her lips. A single ear stood up with the other hanging limp and matted with a little blood.
“Hello Violet, hope you were not too busy, but I had to bring my husband to apologise.” said Maureen eyeing Archie disapprovingly.
“Dear, I couldn’t help it,” pleaded Archie to Maureen, “it was instinct”
“Boulder dash instinct! You know who Violet is, she’s lived next door for four years. Instinct! My word!” Koalas can’t fold their arms, but Maureen seemed to be doing it.
Violet finished chewing and spoke quietly “Oh, it’s quite alright, Maureen I understand, it was dark too you know.”
“See Dear,” Archie cleared his throat, “it was dark and I was protecting my territory…”
“It’s no excuse! Look at her ear, it’s nearly ruined. You can see the bite marks!”
Violet trying to keep the peace piped up “It was nothing Maureen…”
“Thank you, Violet, it is well documented that Koalas are very territorial, Darling, and I was just following my instinc…”
“You mention instincts again and you’ll be territorial of a strip of highway over there beyond the trees! Now apologise!” Maureen’s eyes narrowed.
Archie bowed his head further in shame, “I am very sorry Violet that I bit you and chased you off my patch… but it took me four days to get the scent on that gum tree just right and… “
“Archie! That’s enough!” interrupted Maureen a little happier turning to Violet “I hope you can accept Archie’s apology.”
“Yes of course, thank you Archie.” said Violet with a little smile.
“And if there is anything else Violet, please let us know. Good day Dear.” Said Maureen, turning to leave.
“Oh, yes, Maureen, there is one other thing while you are here.” Piped up Violet.
“Yes, dear, what is it?” said Maureen turning her head.
“When you and Archie do, your mating calls in the middle of the night, it is frightfully loud, I’m afraid, it scares my babies…”
Maureen’s eyes widened and her grey fur reddened in embarrassment.
“Instinct Violet!” quipped Maureen “it’s instinct! I can’t do anything about it!”.
Without another second Maureen shot towards home yelling for Archie to follow.
Violet sat back, shaking her head chewing on another leaf, “Crazier than bloody humans, those two, crazier than humans…”
Australia • 52 years old