The Great Spring Celebration

All of Koalatown was buzzing, even though there was not a bee to be seen. It was buzzing with activity, with laughter, animated conversations, musicians tuning their instruments, the sound of wood against wood as stands and a central platform were being set up at the last minute: the Great Spring Celebration was just about to begin, and it was the event of the year for most of the koalas who lived there, and even for many who didn't.

Mayor Koala didn't look pleased as he talked to a few workers. 'Did you have to wait till the last minute to prepare this platform? I need it to give my opening speech. With this crowd, nobody will see me if I have to stand on the ground!'

'Don't worry, Mayor. It'll be ready in ten minutes. I had some other things to take care of earlier, but as I said, it'll be ready real soon now,' Filthy, a carpenter koala, answered.

Filthy was, despite his questionable name, of unquestionable character. Though able to do all sorts of carpentry work, he had specialized in wagon building. He had a fenced-in area up in the north-central part of Koalatown, right next to the forest, where he kept his supply of wood, and the wagons that were in all stages of construction. Since he often had to crawl under a wagon to make repairs, adjustments, or just to see if everything was in order, his fur often got covered with dirt, though he didn't mind.

Even as a koala baby, he seemed to like to play around on the ground, picking up dirt and grime in the process. Thus, his parents named him 'Filthy,' a name that was now as appropriate as ever. Filthy was known for his somewhat serious nature, his steadfastness of character – a quality not often to be found here in Koalatown – and his work ethic. Not that he was overly ambitious: he often repaired things for koalas at very low prices, if they didn't have much to offer him, or even for free, where old koalas were concerned. After all, the elderly citizens were not able to roam around the forest looking for berries or nuts with which to pay him. Yet payment wasn't the most important thing for Filthy. He liked being useful, and doing a good job. Nonetheless, he had no qualms about charging Mayor Koala a stately price for the work he did for him, for he knew that the Mayor was quite able to pay well, and that not all of the politician's gains had been acquired honestly.

As Filthy had promised, the platform was finished in ten minutes – nine minutes, forty-five seconds, to be exact – and the Mayor was pleased.

'Excellent, just in time. These koalas are no doubt anxious to hear the outstanding speech I am about to give. Isn't that right, Rolly?'

Judge Rolly smiled. 'I think they are more anxious for the speech to finish, so that they can start drinking the liquor.'

'Well, you didn't think I would allow the liquor stands to start selling before I talk, did you? Then they'd all be drunk, and would start shouting while I'm speaking – not at all an acceptable situation.'

'Hey Mayor, we're waitin' for your speech!' an impatient koala called out from the crowd, which had now grown to over a thousand.

'You see, Rolly?' the Mayor said smugly as he climbed up onto the platform, which was about two feet off the ground. 'They love me!'

Judge Rolly climbed up as well, and sat in a chair next to the speaker.

'Heh hum…' the Mayor cleared his throat, as Duffy, Mabo and Doefoo, the three policekoalas, called out to the crowd to be silent.

When all were relatively quiet, the Mayor began:

'Let me welcome you all, young and old, on this joyous occasion. Once again, as every year, we are about to commence the Great Spring Celebration, which is perhaps the greatest tradition in our beloved grove. It gives us a chance to socialize, to dance, to make new acquaintances, in a word, to have fun!'

All the koalas cheered wildly; when they had calmed down, he continued:

'Koalatown has progressed significantly this year, as it did last year, and as it has done every year since I have been mayor. Our educational plan – 'Koalas teaching Koalas' – has been increasingly successful, and the number of koalas who have learned to read, by receiving help from those who already can, has grown by some eight percent in this year alone. Another project, 'Grub for Grandparents' – one of my favorites, and one I thought up myself, by the way – has not only provided our elderly grovemates with nutritious food from the forest, but has instilled a spirit of charity in the younger citizens who partake in it by giving a percentage of the food they gather to our senior citizens. And I would now like to announce that our health care system will soon improve by leaps and bounds. You see, Koalatown has decided – that is, I have decided, since after all, the idea was mine – that we will pay Doctor Koala of Koalaville, no doubt the best physician in the south, and perhaps in all of Koalaland – to give classes in general medicine to a select group of some of Koalatown's brighter students, so that they may serve our community in the future, and thereby assure the better health and well-being of all of us.'

More cheers, for a sick koala is always glad to receive expert medical care. However, the crowd was becoming a bit impatient, since they were here for a party, not a speech.

'Oh, I can see that you are just itching to start dancing, so I won't hold you up much longer.' An even greater cheer arose.

'But I would like to mention that in just three months, we will have our summer celebration; then let's not forget the one in the fall, and the New Year's Party as well. I promise you that as long as you keep electing me as your Mayor, Koalatown will have more parties than any grove around!'

Another ovation; then one koala called out, 'Okay, you'll get our votes! Now let us start to have fun!'

'Of course, my good koala,' the Mayor went on, 'but first, let our venerable Judge Rolly say some final words.' The crowd moaned, since they sensed another speech was on the way.

Rolly, however, knowing his co-citizens exceedingly well, had no intention of torturing them any further. Standing up and raising his hands, he simply said:

'I, Rolly, in my official capacity as Judge of Koalatown, do hereby declare that the Great Spring Celebration will now begin. Have fun, everybody!'

Ecstatic acclamation now, and a mad scrambling towards the stands where eucalyptus liquor, as well as other drinks and snacks, were sold. The musician koalas began to play their instruments: stringed instruments played with bows (somewhat reminiscent of our violins and cellos), horns, flutes, and undoubtedly the most popular among the common koalas – drums.

Musical rhythm, that most basic element of the art, since it reflects the rhythms found in nature – the seasons, night and day, the heartbeat – was the element most dear to the Koalatown koalas. Though there were some rather accomplished musicians in the grove, the more refined subtleties that they expressed when playing were more often than not lost on the masses, who simply wanted to move, to dance, and for this, rhythm was really all that they needed. Thus, on such occasions, the musicians never failed to include drums in their pieces, though they also made it a point to play melodies that were easy to pick up, since a good tune is something even an uneducated koala can appreciate.

Koalas were already dancing en masse, and though the density of the crowd made it almost impossible to do so without bumping into others, no one seemed to mind, for all were merry, and in the best of moods.

Bumpy, Humpy, and Dumpy were certainly no exceptions, for they had met up with three local beauties – Meppy, Milly and Silly – and were now embracing their dates as they danced.

'I can hardly believe it!' Bumpy said as he stared into Milly's eyes. 'I thought your fur was your most attractive feature, but now, when I see your eyes – only now do I get a feeling for what absolute beauty is!'

'Oh, Bumpy, you can't be serious!' Milly blushed as she smiled demurely.

'I could get lost in those eyes – get lost and never want to be found again.'

'Oh, you're sooo romantic!' she purred as she hugged him.

'Gee, Silly, you're a really friendly girl, huh uh huh,' Dumpy, though not as poetic as his friend, nevertheless wanted to pay a compliment to his date.

'Hee hee hee, Dumpy, you're so cute!' Silly, delighted, pinched his cheek.

Humpy, for his part, was not at a loss for eloquence. 'Meppy, when I see you, with that soft, sensual, multi-colored fur, and hold you in my unworthy arms, I feel as if I am hugging a rainbow – a rainbow that will carry me off to the land of my dreams.'

'Oh, Humpy, you do have a way with words!' Meppy was pleased that her colorful fur had won her an ardent admirer.

'I am quite in earnest, my dear. I've never met a koala like you. Oh, I admit I've been around…' Humpy certainly didn't want her to think he had no experience in such matters, 'but when I first met you, I knew you were somebody special. A koala who dares to be different, who uses her obviously refined artistic taste to select just the right colors to use to dye her fur, and fur that is so velutinous, that…' he continued, running his hand over her shoulder, '...no, this cannot be fur. It must be silk, or velvet! Oh, what a delight to the touch!'

'Oooh, Humpy, I can tell you're from Koalaville! You're such a smooth talker!'

Meppy bathed in the compliments he was showering upon her.

Despite the general merriment, not all the koalas in the grove were enjoying themselves.

Standing on the sidelines next to a tree, and looking very grim, were Chuppy, Guppy and Moldy, who were watching Bumpy, Humpy and Dumpy dancing and flirting with the three koala girls.

'Why, those scurvy critters!' Guppy scowled. 'Who do they think they are, stealin' our girls like that? Meppy and her friends were gonna come to the party with us, till those three butted in.'

'Yeah, I feel like goin' over there and punchin' that punk Bumpy right in his ugly snoot!

As a matter of fact, I think I'll do just that!' Chuppy announced as he took a step in that direction, his fists clenched.

'Wait, you idiot!' his friend Moldy pulled him back. 'Don't you see that dumb Duffy over there? If we get into a fight, we'll end up chained to a tree, after he beats us senseless, that is.'

'Uuugh!' Chuppy grunted. 'There ain't any justice in this world at all!'

'Yeah, well, we gotta wait for the right opportunity,' Guppy said.

'Hey, maybe we can make our own opportunity,' Chuppy replied with a malicious grin.

'I've got an idea, heh heh heh…'

'Uh oh,' Guppy groaned, 'the last time you had a bright idea, we ended up in big trouble.'

'Hey, this idea's a lot better than the one I had about planting that beehive in Duffy's tree,' Chuppy defended himself.

'Well, it better be. I got stung five times that day, and we didn't even manage to get the beehive out of the tree in the forest where we found it.'

'Okay you two, shut up and listen. Here's what we're gonna do…' Chuppy went on to explain his plan, and had soon convinced both of his delinquent buddies of its genius.

'All right, let's get started, then,' Guppy said once Chuppy had finished. 'First, we need an unsuspecting koala… Hey! You there! Come over here!' he yelled to a young koala who was standing on the sidelines of the social activity, probably too timid to dance.

'Uh, do you mean me?' the koala looked hesitant, no doubt because he knew of the rotten reputation that those three had.

'Yeah, we mean you!' Moldy answered, walking over and grabbing him by the arm to lead him over to the other two rascals.

'Oh, don't hurt me! I didn't do anything!' the koala pleaded.

'Hurt you? Why, we wouldn't think of it!' Chuppy grinned. 'As a matter of fact, we'd like to be your friends.'

'You would? Really?' the koala asked, suspecting a trick of some kind.

'Sure we would,' Guppy replied. 'If you're our friend, we don't have to beat you up. You would like to be our friend, wouldn't you?'

'Oh, yes sir, I most certainly would,' the koala responded. 'My name is Dewey.'

'Yeah, okay,' Chuppy muttered. 'Look, Tooey…'

'Uh, the name's Dewey, sir.'

'Yeah, yeah, whatever. Okay, Dewey, I'm Chuppy, and these are my pals Guppy and Moldy. Since we're all friends now, maybe you'd like to do us a little favor.'

'A favor?' Dewey couldn't imagine what they'd want from him, since he didn't even have any nuts or berries.

'Yeah, just one little favor. We'd like you to deliver a message to somebody here at the dance.'

'Oh, well, I guess I could do that for you. But why can't you do it yourselves?' Dewey asked innocently.

Chuppy grabbed Dewey by the straps of his overalls, and pulled him close to his snarling face. 'Look chump, don't ask any questions, if ya know what's good for ya!'

'Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…' Dewey trembled.

Chuppy, calming down, let him go and straightened out the straps of Dewey's overalls for him. 'Sorry I blew up, but I don't like it when a friend like you doubts my good intentions.'

'Oh, no sir, I'd never do that!' Dewey tried to smile, but wished he were someplace else right then.

'Look, it's simple. We'll give you a note, and tell you who to give it to, and that's it.

That's not too much to ask of a pal, is it?' Moldy tried to reassure him.

'Well, no, I suppose…' Dewey thought he was lucky if that was all they wanted from him.

'Okay, let's sit down here, and get that note written. Here's a scrap of paper,' Chuppy began, pulling a wrinkled piece of yellowish paper out of his pocket. 'Who has a pen?'

'Oh, let's see,' Dewey replied, 'I do, right here. Well, actually, it's a pencil, will that do?'

'Yeah, that's swell,' Chuppy responded as he took it. 'Let's see… Mmmmm… Oh, I'm afraid I forgot my glasses. Can't write too neatly without 'em. Here Guppy, you write.'

'Oh, uuh, I forgot mine, too. Moldy?'

'Uuuuh, I have a cramp in my hand. It would really hurt if I had to write that note,' Moldy lied. It was plain to Dewey that not one of them could write very well, if at all, yet he thought it safer not to say so.

'Dewey, do you know how to write?' Guppy asked

'Why, yes indeed, I write quite well, and I don't need glasses,' he was glad to be able to please the mangy trio.

'Fine, then. Here you go,' Chuppy said with a smile as he handed Dewey pencil and paper. 'Here's what you should write: 'You're real cute. Meet me up in the northeast in thirty minutes, where the path enters the forest, and I'll give you a big kiss'.'

Dewey carefully wrote the message, word for word, and then asked, 'Is that all?'

'Yeah, that's it. Guppy answered for Chuppy. 'Now, you see that koala over there dancing with the cute koala?'

'You mean the one dancing with the girl who has that multi-colored fur?'

'No, not that one, the one dancing with the other girl,' Moldy said.

'But there are so many couples dancing. I don't know which one you mean.'

'Augh!' Chuppy grunted. 'Are you tryin' to get me mad?!'

'Oh, no sir! I just want to be sure I give it to the right koala.'

'Okay, we'll do it like this,' Chuppy said, calming down. 'Go over there, where all those koalas are dancin' near the stands. Then, when this dance is over and they take a rest, call out 'Bumpy Koala! I've got a message for Bumpy!', and when he comes over to you, give him the message, then leave. He'll be with a pretty girl, so you should try to make sure that she doesn't see what's in the note. We wouldn't want her to get offended or anything. Is that too much to ask?'

'Oh no, not at all. But this note says 'you're real cute', and that you want to give him a kiss, but he's a male koala. I'm a little confused…' Dewey didn't know quite what to think.

'Hey pal, what are you tryin' to insinuate?!' Chuppy flared up menacingly, clenching his fists.

'Oh, nothing, nothing at all, sir! I'll give him the note, I surely will!' Dewey shook with fear. 'But you know, maybe I'm not the right koala for this. Everybody might look at me. I am a little shy, you know…' Dewey lowered his head, a bit ashamed that he was so timid.

'Hey, Dewey, look at it this way,' Guppy smiled as he put his arm around him. 'If you call out for Bumpy, some koalas will stare at you for a few seconds, but if you leave this party with lumps and bruises all over your face, they'll be starin' at you for at least a week. Now, which do you choose?'

'Oh, why, a few seconds sounds a lot better to me! I'll go over there and find Bumpy as soon as this dance ends,' Dewey said quickly, needing no time whatsoever to make his choice.

'Fine. Oh, here,' Chuppy said, feeling generous. 'Take a swig of this eucalyptus liquor.

It'll make it easier for you. Oh, and if he asks who gave you the message, say it was a girl, that you don't know her name, but that she was a real beauty. Got that?'

'Yes, a girl, no name, a real beauty, that's what I'll say,' Dewey then took a swig and started to cough. He obviously wasn't used to the stuff.

The other three laughed. 'Really lifts your spirits, huh?' Moldy asked.

'Oh, uh, why, yes, it does, thank you very much,' Dewey answered, glad that they seemed to be in a good mood now.

'Okay, enough talk. You've got a message to deliver. This dance should be endin' in a minute. Bye, and thanks for your help!' Chuppy said as he pushed him a bit to get him to move.

'All right, I'll do just as you say. Have a nice evening!' Dewey wished them, quite relieved to be able to put some distance between himself and the three miscreants.

He made his way through the crowd, and when he got to the eucalyptus liquor stand, he stood and waited for the dance to end. As soon as it was finished, the koalas began to mill around. Many, including Bumpy, Humpy, Dumpy and their dates, were walking over towards the stand.

'Bumpy Koala! I've got an important message for Bumpy Koala!' Dewey called out, feeling quite uncomfortable in doing so, since many in the crowd looked over at him.

Fortunately, Bumpy was close by, and came over at once.

'You've got a message for me?' he asked, surprised.

'Yes sir, I have. It's a private message,' he added in a softer voice, so that only Bumpy could hear.

'Okay, let's have it,' Bumpy took it and began to read. 'Hmm, I seem to have forgotten my glasses. Could you read it to me?' Bumpy requested.

'Well, yes, I suppose I could,' Dewey replied. Then, not wanting anybody to overhear, he leaned towards Bumpy and whispered the message into his ear: 'You're real cute. Meet me up in the northeast in thirty minutes, where the path enters the forest, and I'll give you a big kiss.'

'Why, you freak! I oughta punch you right in the snoot! Now read me that message before I...' Bumpy snorted, raising his fist.

'Oh, no sir, you misunderstood. That was the message!' Dewey quickly explained.

'Huh? It was? Are you sure?' Bumpy was bewildered, since he couldn't imagine having a secret admirer here. 'Is that really what it says? Who gave you this, anyway?'

'Oh, it was a girl koala,' Dewey answered slowly and deliberately, trying not to forget his instructions. 'She had no name, and was a real beauty.'

'Huh? She had no name? But everybody has a name!' Bumpy was perplexed.

'Oh, I mean I don't know her name; yes, that's what I mean. She was a girl, was really beautiful, and I don't know her name. That's it!' Dewey was satisfied that he had finally remembered everything.

'Oh, well, in that case…' Bumpy said with a smug smile, 'I think you deserve a little reward. Here, have a swig of this,' he offered him his bottle of eucalyptus liquor.

'Oh, well…' Dewey was afraid not to accept, for after all, who knows how this koala might respond if he rejected his kind offer? 'Thank you very much, sir!' he said as he took a drink, then burped loudly.

'Hah hah!' Bumpy laughed. 'That hit the spot, didn't it? Well, my fine koala, I thank you for your efforts, and I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything, just come on over to Koalaville, and ask for Bumpy Koala.'

'Oh, okay sir, I'll remember that. May I go now?' Dewey asked shyly.

'Why, of course you can, and thanks again!'

Milly, who had been chatting with Meppy after the dance, came over to Bumpy.

'Did you receive an important message?' she asked.

'Oh, uh, oh, yes, I did. A message from… from a business partner, you see. I'm afraid I'll have to meet him in a half hour, but don't worry, I should be back in an hour or so.'

'Oh, Bumpy, what a shame!' Milly was disappointed. 'Can't it wait? It's so much fun with you!'

'Oh, I know my dear, but it is important. A big business deal I've been negotiatin', but don't worry, once I finish the meeting, I'll come right back here, and we can dance till dawn!'

'Well, okay, I guess that'll be all right,' Milly said, showing how understanding she was.

'I just hope it doesn't take long.'

'I'll make it as short as I can,' Bumpy promised. 'Oh, excuse me. I have to tell Humpy and Dumpy. I'll be back in a minute.'

After showing his two friends the note, they didn't know what to think.

'Who could that be?' Humpy wondered. 'And why are you going, anyway? You have Milly here!'

'Oh, I know, but she'll be here when I get back. The koala that sent me this note is a real beauty, I've heard! Wouldn't you be curious to find out who it is, if you got a message like this?'

'Well, yeah, I would,' Humpy admitted.

'Uh, gee Bumpy,' Dumpy began, 'I don't think it's polite to leave Milly to go meet somebody else, is it? Huh uh huh.'

'Oh, don't ask me questions like that! A koala's gotta do what a koala's gotta do, that's all there is to it!'

'Uh, gee Bumpy, what's a koala gotta do?'

'What he's gotta do,' Bumpy repeated.

'Oh, yeah… huh uh huh…' Dumpy didn't grasp the logic, and thought that he wasn't quite smart enough to understand a mind as developed as Bumpy's. 'Gee, I guess that makes sense, huh uh huh.'

'Look, fellas, you two keep the three girls entertained till I get back. I'll just go up there to the tête-à-tête, get in a few kisses, and then plan to meet her some other day. After that, I'll come right back here, and Milly will never suspect a thing!'

'Okay, Bumpy, but don't take too long, or Milly might start asking too many questions.'

'Don't worry, I shouldn't be more than an hour at the very most,' Bumpy assured them.

Then he walked over to Milly, gave her a tender kiss on the cheek, promised to finish his 'business meeting' as soon as he could, and made his way through the crowd, heading up to the northeastern section of Koalatown, which was now practically vacant, since most koalas were in the central part, enjoying the party.