The five Heelers started their trip on the lake towards the cabine, with Bob at the cockpit steering the boat, while his sons and grandson were at the back. While Bandit was at a corner checking out his rod for the fishing, Stripe was nearby watching as Thomas was talking with Rad, with the two appearing to be getting along quite well.

Noticing his younger brother's pouting look, Bandit told him, while still checking the fishing rod:

"Could you not be too obvious?"

"What?" Stripe asked, turning to Bandit.

"I mean, your jealousy can be seen from a distance" Bandit replied. "The only thing that is missing is you turning green."

"I'm not jealous!" Stripe protested, while blushing.

"Sure you're not" Bandit said, sarcastically. "It's not like we just had this talk earlier."

But Stripe just rolled his eyes and kept on looking to Rad and Thomas. It was then that Thomas came to them and said:

"Dad, did you know that uncle Rad was the captain of both the touch football and rugby teams back in school?"

"I hope so, having in consideration I was in the team as well" Bandit replied.

"Yeah, but you didn't quite have the talent as your big brother has, little brother" Rad teased.

"Sure, that's why I was faster and better than you at dodging" Bandit replied, while getting up, putting down the rod and crossing the arms, with his teasing smile.

"Faster, but a little clumsy, must I say" Rad added. "Sometimes, it looked like you were in cricket mode."

"Hey, are you two forgetting I was also in the team?" Stripe asked, hating when his older brothers always forgot about him. "I may not have been as amazing as you two, but I was also did a great job at the team."

As he saw his father and uncles arguing like that, in such teasingly and yet friendly way, caused Thomas to express a smile. Seeing them like that made him wonder if he and his sisters would be like that. He hoped so. Ever since he could remember, he wanted a sibling. He remembered how much he wanted a brother or a sister and asked that to his mother. But now he had two sisters and he only wanted to get along with them just like his father and uncles do.

"Wow… I just hope I can be as good as you are" Thomas said to them. "Dad had already taught me somethings about touch football, but I think I'm not that good."

"Don't say that, son" Bandit said, putting down the rod and going to his son, kneeling before him. "You're just starting… and you already have the reflexes."

"Your dad is right" Stripe said. "And you're in luck, because you have a bunch of teachers to help you."

"Despite you just need the right one for that… and I am perfect for the role" Rad said, while approaching and causing his younger brothers to retreat.

"Really?" Thomas asked. "Great!"

Stripe seeing that, felt like he had just been placed aside.

"Okay, you two, but try to contain that excitement for when we reach the cabin" Bob's voice was heard from the cockpit, with him being listening everything.

"Yes, grandad" Thomas said.

He then saw his dad going to keep checking the rod. Curious about that, he decided to go to his side.

"Hey, dad, can you teach me how to fish?" he asked. "I don't want to look bad when we get to fish."

That caused Bandit to make a smile and then he said:

"Of course, mate."

Stripe came to watch Thomas with Bandit. Ever since the trip started, he didn't have any quality time with Thomas. Of course he couldn't blame him for wanting to be with his dad, but when it came to Rad… he couldn't help but feeling jealous. Rad really had the ability to get the attention for himself. If only there was a way for Stripe to have Thomas to look up to him again…

It was then that he noticed Rad getting some binoculars and look around with them. Stripe recognized that behavior quickly. He knew his brother was looking out for birds. He did that every time they would go on a lake trip. At that moment, Stripe just had one idea that could give him the bonding he needed with Thomas and make him look better than Rad.

Approaching Thomas, Stripe asked:

"Hey, Thomas, are you up for some fun?"

"Always, uncle Stripe" Thomas said, while putting down his rod.

"Hey, what happened to the fish lesson?" Bandit asked.

"No worries, bro, I just need Thomas here for a little prank" Stripe told.

And so he went to whisper something to Thomas. It didn't take long for Bandit to know what Stripe was planning.

"Oh boy…" he said.

After telling Thomas what he was planning, Stripe asked him:

"Are you ready?"

"Ready" Thomas said.

They turned to Rad, who was still looking out for birds, and Stripe asked:

"Hey, Rad, aren't those ibises flying over you?"

"Ah, ah, very funny, Stripy, but I won't fall for that again" Rad said, while keeping looking around with his binoculars. "And it's sad that you try to prey on my dislike for birds to prank me."

Nodding to Thomas, the young pup nodded back and then said to Rad:

"No, uncle Rad, it's true! There're some white birds flying over you… and they look like they're about to dive."

"What?!" Rad asked, while starting to look around frenetically. "Not those ibises!"

During his frenetic search for the ibises they told him about, Rad ended up tripping over his own feet and then fall overboard. That caused Stripe, Thomas and Bandit to come over, all while the boat stopped with Bob coming over.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Rad fell overboard" Bandit told him.

"Uncle Rad, are you okay?" Thomas asked.

Soon Rad caught up with them and replied:

"Sure, kid, no worries."

"It's not like you to just fall like that, son" Bob replied.

"Well, let's just say he had help" Bandit said, looking at Stripe, causing everyone to look at him too.

"What, it was funny" Stripe said.

"Stripe, I thought you guys were too old for this kind of pranks" Bob said.

"Grandad, it was not just uncle Stripe, I helped on his prank" Thomas said, a little embarrassed.

"No worries, dad, it was a good prank" Rad said to Bob. "Those two caught me good. Hey, Stripe, could you at least help me get on board?"

"Sure thing, mate" Stripe replied, extended his hand to Rad.

But before he could think through that, Stripe had his hand grabbed by Rad who then pulled him into the water, what caused the others to share a laugh.

"There, now this is how you pull a prank, little brother" Rad told Stripe when he came up to the surface.

"That was great, uncle Rad!" Thomas exclaimed.

"A little predictable, in my opinion" Bandit said, turning to Stripe. "I can't believe you fell for it, bro."

But Stripe just rolled his eyes and asked:

"Could you just help me get on board?"

"Wait… first I just have to do something" Bob said, appearing with his camera.

"No, dad, not a photo…" Stripe said.

"You know the rules, son" Bob said. "Any big moment must be remembered. Now, say 'cheese'!"

"Cheese!" Rad said, smiling, while, putting his arm around his brother's shoulders, with Stripe not looking that happy.

Bob took the photo which then got out of the camera.

"This will be a great addition to the family album" Bob said. "Okay, you two, get back on board so we can continue our trip. We still need to catch some fish."

With that, Rad quickly got back on board and then extended his hand to Stripe. Despite the latter was still mad that his attempt to prank Rad to get Thomas' admiration quickly backfired, Stripe didn't want to show all that was affecting him, so he took his older brother's hand, pulling him back onto the boat.

As the journey continued, Thomas started admiring the view. He had already gone in field trips at school back in America, but he had never seen something like that. Without a doubt Australia was quite different from his homeland. It was then that he noticed something at the water.

"Ah, Dad, what is that in the water?" he asked.

Bandit looked to where his son was looking at and said, while putting a hand on his shoulder:

"Oh, that's a platypus."

"Really?" Thomas said, enthusiastic. "I haven't seen one before!"

He then noticed a flash that came from his grandfather's camera, as he had just taken a photo of Thomas and Bandit, saying, while taking the photo and waiting for it to get revealed:

"Then you're in luck. We have some around here. Your sisters love watching them as we cross the lake."

"Awesome…" Thomas sighed.

"Yeah, mate, but don't get too close, okay?" Stripe said.

"Your uncle Stripe is right, son" Bandit told. "The males have poison on the spurs at their ankles. It's not deadly, but it is painful."

"Even more awesome…" Thomas said.

"I know, right?!" Rad said to his nephew. "You know, I once managed to swim along platypus."

"Cool…" Thomas admired.

"Yeah, and got stung in result of that…" Stripe said, with a mocking smile to his older brother.

"But it was worthy" Rad replied.

"Wow, uncle Rad… I hope I also get to do that" Thomas said.

Stripe couldn't believe that, no matter what he tried to do or say, Rad was always able to get Thomas' admiration.

"I know that swimming with platypus may look cool, but I think it's for the best you don't try to copy your uncle Rad, mate" Bandit told his son.

"Listen to your dad, Thomas, don't pain on your ears on like this one used to do" Bob said, while going to noggie his oldest son's head.

"Come on, dad, don't embarrass me in front of the kid" Rad replied.

"Paint on my ears?" Thomas asked, confused.

"It means 'not listening'" Bandit clarified to his son.

"Okay, boys, let's keep going" Bob said, while going back to the cockpit. "I want to have all the time we get to catch some good fish before sunset."

A few moments later, the boat continued its journey, but, while all the others were enjoying the trip, Stripe couldn't help but to stare at Thomas and Rad, as they seemed to be getting along even more. He knew that attitude was pure jealousy, but he couldn't help it. Up until that trip, Stripe thought he was Thomas' favourite uncle, but it would appear that role was just moving away the more time his nephew would spend with Rad.

Despite knowing he still loved him as his uncle, Stripe couldn't contain his need to be Thomas' favourite. He could only hope to find the best chance to regain that title yet again…