Lady Penelope Platypus had just finished laying a clutch of eggs and was expecting them to hatch some time soon. She had just one small problem. As the wife of the mayor, she was required to fulfil certain social duties. Just what was she going to do with her soon to be hatchlings?
The town of Numbat Flats was very progressive and yet it did not have a day care centre for the young offspring of the working parents of the town. Lady Penelope thought it would be a wonderful idea if she got one started. The only thing was, she did not know how to start anything let alone a day care centre.
“What to do?” she asked herself out loud. “What to do?” As she was walking towards her husband’s office at the time of her musings she was overheard by Kevin and Karla Koala. “Excuse me Lady Penelope, were you talking to us?” asked Kevin. “What? Oh no. Just thinking out loud.” she replied. “I have a problem with keeping up my social appearances as the wife of the mayor and my chores as a mother. I want to start a day care centre but have no idea how.” Lady Penelope said.
Kevin and Karla looked at each other. Since Kenneth and Katrina had both now left home they were feeling a little lost. At the same time they both blurted out, “Can we help?” Lady Penelope thought that this was just the best thing she had heard and responded with a grateful, “Oh yes thank you.”
“Can I leave all the organising up to you Kevin? I have so much else to occupy my time at the moment.” she said and before either of the Koala’s could respond she hurried off to tell her husband what she had accomplished.
Kevin and Karla looked at each other with broad grins on their faces. They knew just what to do. They longed for the companionship of tiny little people. It did not matter to them if they were the children of different folk, just as long as they could have the young ones around them again. Kevin and Karla went straight home to their high-set house; it was in the top of a gum tree, and looked around.
This would not do and they both knew it. They hurried on to the home of Mr and Mrs Wombat, an underground burrow and again found that this would not do. Then Kevin had a bright idea. He said, “Why not ask Barry Bower Bird to build us a magnificent bower for the children?” Karla responded, “Just what I was thinking.”
Off they went to the home of Barry Bower Bird. On arrival they saw that Barry had been out collecting baubles and trinkets again and was putting the finishing touches on the outside decoration of his latest bower. When he saw Kevin and Karla rushing towards him he stopped and turned to face them. Kevin quickly outlined his request to have Barry build a bower to act as the day care centre and he agreed straight away.
Barry said, “I’ll begin right now. Come back in a week and I will have it finished for you.” With that he flew off to get materials for his greatest project ever; a day care centre. Kevin and Karla rushed home to prepare the signage for the day care centre.
In the mean time, Mayor Sir Percival Platypus the eighteenth had heard his wife out and thought that the idea was a very good one. He declared, “I think that is a great idea. We will have a grand opening day and a fete. We will invite all working parents to attend and declare a public holiday. After all it is not every day that we open the Lady Penelope Day Care Centre is it?”
A week was not very long, yet Barry Bower Bird was true to his word. He had completed the building of a most magnificent bower. It was decorated with all sorts of colourful nick knacks and had lots of room for the youngsters to run about in. He was justifiably proud. Kevin and Karla had completed the signage and rather reluctantly named the day care centre after Lady Penelope.
The day of the grand opening arrived and people gathered about enjoying the fete. Kevin and Karla Koala were there as well and were waiting for the unveiling of the new centre. Just then Sir Percival called to have every-one’s attention. He said, “Today good citizens of Numbat Flats, I have the great honour and privilege to open the Lady Penelope Day Care Centre for the working parents of Numbat Flats.”
With this speech he pulled the veil aside from the sign painted by Kevin and Karla. People cheered and then started to laugh and soon the whole town fell about laughing. Sir Percival could not understand. Lady Penelope was crestfallen. She turned to the sign to see what had caused such a reaction. The sign read; Lady Penelope Day Care Centre. Hours of operation: 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday.
Seeing this, Lady Penelope too, began to laugh. After all, what would you expect from a Koala they are nocturnal folk you know.
