getting grumpier and grumpier.
“I’m not sure that’s a very good idea,” said Squirt.
“Oh, yeah?” replied Bro. “Well, I think it’s a great idea. What do you think, mate?”
Dude didn’t reply straightaway. In fact, Dude didn’t reply at all. Not because he couldn’t think what to say, but because he’d fallen asleep again, which only made Bro even grumpier. It was his idea. It was him who should have fallen asleep again first!
“Squeak?” said Squirt, looking round. “Where are you?”
But it was too late. Squeak had already gone.
He gave himself a nice, long scratch. Not only was scratching just about the best feeling in the whole wide world, it also helped Squirt to think. The effect was almost instant. Squirt suddenly remembered something. This wasn’t the first time he’d woken up today – it was the second time.
Something nearby snored. Squirt looked round to see Dude and Bro, both fast asleep and cuddling each other. Squirt looked again. Odd, he thought. Dude appeared to be nibbling one of Bro’s ears.
“Ouch!” yelled Bro, waking up suddenly and swatting Dude as if he was some kind of overgrown fly. “Gerroff me, ya big fat wallaby! You just bit my ear!”
“Aw, sorry about that, mate,” said Dude.
“I should think so too,” grumbled Bro.
“I was just having this really weird dream,” explained Dude.
“Oh, yeah?” said Bro, not terribly interested.
“Yeah,” said Dude. “Dreamed I was eating a great big furry eucy branch.”
Bro looked at Dude. “That wasn’t a eucy branch! That was my ear!”
“Oh, right,” said Dude. “No wonder it didn’t taste very nice.”
Squirt couldn’t help giggling.
“It’s not funny,” muttered Bro under his breath.
“Heh-heh-heh,” chuckled Dude. “It’s a bit funny, mate.”
Bro thought for a moment. “S’pose you’re right, mate. It is a bit funny. But only a bit.”
Dude didn’t reply. He’d noticed something. Something very important. Something that the other two hadn’t noticed yet. “Where’s Squeak?”
“What?” said Bro.
“Yer baby sister.”
“I know who Squeak is!” said Bro.
“So where is she, Bro?”
Squirt gasped. So that’s what was wrong – Squeak wasn’t there! They’d been left in charge of her and what had they done? They’d fallen asleep on the job!
“Oops,” said Bro.
“Oops?” said Squirt. “This is more than just oops!”
“Ya reckon?” said Bro.
“Er, yes, I do, actually,” said Squirt. “If we’ve lost her we’re in trouble. Big trouble!”
“Ya reckon?” said Bro.
“Yes, I do reckon!” said Squirt. “She’s just a baby! She’s way too young to be wandering about all by herself! Anything could happen!”
“Ya reckon?” said Bro.
“Can you please stop saying that?” said Squirt. “It’s getting really annoying!”
“Ya reckon?” said Bro.
Squirt sighed. This wasn’t good. They were supposed to be showing some responsibility, whatever that was. “Mum and Dad are going to go bonkers when they find out!”
“If they find out,” said Dude.
Squirt looked at Dude for a moment. “You’re right!” he said.
Dude was surprised. “I am?”
“Yes,” said Squirt. “If Mum and Dad don’t find out, then they won’t go bonkers, will they?”
“So what are you saying?” said Bro.
“I’m saying we have to find her!” said Squirt impatiently. “And quickly!”
“Aw, you’re joking,” said Bro.
Squirt looked at his big brother in disbelief. Joking? He’d never been more serious in his life!
“How about we have another kip – and then find her?” said Bro.
“No! We have to find her now!” said Squirt. “It’s all your fault anyway!”
Bro was confused. “My fault? How d’ya work that out?”
“Easy,” said Squirt. “You’re the one who told her to go and climb the tallest tree she could find, just so you could get some more sleep!”
“The little feller’s right, mate,” said Dude. “You did.”
Bro shot Dude a look. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m just saying, mate,” said Dude.
“Well, don’t, mate,” said Bro.
“Stop squabbling, you two!” said Squirt. “We’ve got to find her! Now!”
Dude and Bro looked at each other.
“He’s right again, mate,” said Dude.
Bro nodded. “I know he is, mate.”
Dude and Bro turned round again. But Squirt had disappeared down below.
“Let’s go,” said Dude, almost sounding urgent.
Bro sighed deeply. “Coming.”
Squirt was smaller than Dude and Bro. He was also much quicker at climbing
