Chapter 13

They get done filming in record time and a few weeks later they get everything sent in. Late one evening Eliza is out just with her best friend Darwin watching stars as they do so much. "So Darwin what are we going to do once we leave for Australia tomorrow?" Eliza says breaking the silence of crickets chirping at 10 at night. "I don't know why do you always ask? You know I always say nothing then you pressure me into doing something else," he says sitting up. "No that's once we get to location now we are going to be travelling 1000's of miles and back into chilly weather its almost fall there. We are going to be there for awhile," Eliza quietly reminds him. "Whatever," he says in a very Debbie like way. "Ha Ha my sister is really growing on you isn't she?" Eliza laughs at him. "She is not!" he says defending himself. "Come on Dar lets head back I did promise mom we would be back within the hour. You know how she gets moody when we are late and you so like Debbie!" She says running ahead of him laughing at him. "No I don't!" he yells back trying to catch up to her.

Early the next morning they leave for Australia on a 4 week excursion to film Kangaroo's and some other animals as their last adventure before the baby comes. "So Marianne when we get there we are going straight to Alice Springs to catch the biggest herd of Kangaroos Australia has seen in 50 years," Nigel says as he tries to figure out the game plan once they get there. "Right and they are so fun to watch," Marianne adds braving Nigel's driving.

Donnie is the first one up and already he has more energy than a pack of dogs. He starts by running around the back and then up front and starts running back again. "Donnie stop it's too early for you to be wild," Marianne says picking him up again. "I don't know how much longer I can lift you sweetie soon I won't be able to at all," she says straining just to lift him. She sits down with him in the passenger seat. Donnie finds a piece of tape to play with up front and it is so sticky he can barley play with it. He sticks it to his nose and finds a ball to play with. He throws it against the windshield and it nearly cracks before it bounces back and hits him in the head making him wince a bit. "You ok Donnie?" Marianne says looking at where he got hit. He has a small welt forming but nothing too bad. "Here this can't hurt you and you can't break the window," she says as she hands him a hacky sack Eliza bought back in China. He throws it back and it hits Debbie nearly knocking her over in surprise. "Donnie you are such a little brat!" She yells at him but doesn't give chase because he is still up front. "How long is it until we get to Australia?" Debbie says miserable. "A few days a week tops," Nigel says as he is navigating the commvee out in the sea.

"Great," she says miserable and plops down on the couch. She watches out the window and sees huge clouds building in the distance. She has seen this many times before and prays they will miss the oncoming storm. "Um dad we are going to miss that storm right?" Debbie says a little bit afraid. "Of course I know where its coming from we won't be anywhere near it," he says pushing ahead. "Are you sure about that?" Marianne whispers to him trying not to scare her daughter. Yes I'm sure if I can maneuver it the right way it should be easy," he whispers back. "I sure hope you know what you're doing," she adds trying to keep Donnie busy. Nigel then makes a sharp right making Debbie fall from her spot hitting her head on the passenger's seat at full force. "What was that for?" Marianne says remembering what an idiot her husband is. "Debbie are you ok?" Marianne asks as Debbie sits back up once things are calm again. "Ya I'll be ok," she says glaring at her dad. "I better go check on Eliza," Marianne adds getting up the best she can to check on her little girl. She gets downstairs and sees that Eliza is sleeping like a baby on her bed even though it is obvious she had to of fallen.

Twenty Two minutes later Debbie's fear becomes a reality when the storm hits. "Dad you drove us right into the storm!" she shouts over the noise of the waves crashing into the motor home and the wind threatening to knock them over. "Nigel I though you knew what you were doing!" Marianne adds holding Donnie tightly trying to stay still and not get knocked over. "Oops!" he says trying to keep control of the dangerous situation. Lightning starts striking all over the place as the wind and waves pick up nearly knocking them over a dozen times or more. Eliza finally manages to get upstairs to see what is going on. Debbie is being thrown around and finally manages to hang onto one of the front seats. "What's going on?" Eliza says once she gets to all of the commotion. "A storm, hang on and hopefully we will be out of it shortly," Nigel says as Marianne helps him control the commvee. Eliza grabs Donnie and sits at the table but she is quickly thrown into the cabinet when a huge wave pounds the commvee with such force it tilts to one side throwing everyone to the right side of the commvee. Squished inside the cabinet Eliza grabs the pipe and hangs on with one hand and keeps a death hold on Donnie with her other. "It's ok Donnie we will be ok dad says we will out of it soon," she says trying to comfort her little fragile brother who is hanging onto her for dear life.

As quickly as the storm came two hours later it stops and everything is more still then it was before the storm. "Is everyone ok?" Nigel says making sure everyone is accounted for. Everyone gives their ok trying to shake what just happened. "Are you going to be ok?" Nigel says to Marianne as she sits back down for the first time in two hours. "I will be but I think the baby was more afraid then any of us," she says as Nigel feels him kick around. "Wow you're not kidding," he says and then continues driving hoping to get his family to Australia before anymore terrible storms can come upon them.

Eight days later…

They arrive in Alice Springs, Australia right on schedule and so Marianne and Nigel take off in the mini comm. and head south trying to catch the migration of kangaroos a few miles away. On this day it is warm but cooling down for the fall season less than a month away. Eliza takes off with Darwin but Donnie stays back with Debbie. "Gosh we haven't been here in over a year it's amazing how Alice Springs can change this much," she says as they wonder around the desert and away from town. As they move along on an easterly direction Eliza spots a small herd of kangaroo's mozing on about. "Hey Dar lets go see what they are up to," she says to her best friend.

When they get near Eliza hears a familiar voice. "Hey Eliza," it says as she spins around and see's her old pal Joey. "Joey?" she says in disbelief. He is now all grown up and has a bunch of little Joeys with his girl. "Oh my goodness it is so good to see you," Eliza says when he gets close. "Eliza it has been so long. This here is my mate and my ten boys, over there is my only girl playing with her friends. So Eliza how are you?" he says as one of the kids start eyeing Darwin. "I'm great what are you doing here? I met you in Tasmania," she asks as the boys play attack Darwin sending him on a wild chase. "There was a major fire and I'm the only survivor of the incident. It was so long ago there I was standing around calling for my mother with fire burning all around me and some people took me far away. I was all alone scared and so I escaped those walls and wound up here and that's when I met Jenny," he finishes. For a brief moment no one speaks and so Eliza is the first to. "Wow Joey I'm so sorry but I'm glad you are ok and met her," she says as Darwin is being beat up by Joey's kids. Eliza and Joey pry the boys off Darwin and she helps him up. "You ok Darwin?" Eliza asks as she gets him to his feet. "Ya just great! This is like the Joey incident all over again!" he says and stomps off. "Oh come on what did you expect? They are Joey's kids," Eliza says following him. They wonder around with Joey for awhile looking at other Kangaroos and animals all over the place. She looks to her left and sees two kangaroos mating. "Look Darwin! Look at what they are doing!" she says as Darwin watches in amazement. "That's hilarious!" she adds "See it all the time," Joey says. "Let's keep moving," he adds. So they do but Eliza and Joeys boys can't stop watching.

Marianne and Nigel are close to town filming a bunch of kangaroos. "So today we are going to take a look at kangaroos migrating through central Australia," Nigel starts his introduction to his show. "This is awesome I've never seen so many kangaroos in my life," Marianne says after he finishes his introduction. "These animals are sure a mystery," Nigel says like he is giving a lecture to schoolchildren. Just then the kangaroos start running in a different direction. They try to figure out what they are doing and so Nigel gives his assumptions "Wow that kangaroo is leading them on a brisk run," he says. "No they are going to the nearby watering hole dummy," Marianne says as she watches them head that way. Nigel then to add to his show walks up to one of them and the kangaroo gets startled and kicks him hard into the ground. "Nigel!" Marianne says as she runs up to him and he looks in a daze. "What did you do?" she adds when he can speak. "Nothing I just wanted to look at him," he says "ow," he says with a limp. "Are you sure you are going to be ok?" she says again. "Yes just keep filming I'll be fine," Nigel says bravely.

Debbie decides to go into town with Donnie regretfully with Donnie because she has to watch him. "Now Donnie do not do anything 'normal' for you just pretend you are my 'normal' little brother,"' she says as they go into a shop and she sees a cute dude that she assumes works in the shop. "Play it cool, play it cool," she says to herself as she walks up to the boy. "Hi I'm Debbie just got in from Sydney do you know any good restaurants?" Debbie says trying to be flirty. "Uh no you're not and yes I can show you around. I'm Jessie by the way," he says in his adorably Australian accent that makes Debbie's heart melt away."Really? You would?" she says. "Of course and who is this cute kid?" he says watching Donnie be weird. "Um I never net him in my life," she lies and the two walk off with Donnie trailing behind. "So why is that boy following us?" Jessie says as they walk around town. "Alright I give in he is my crazy brother and he drives me crazy!" she says to Jessie. "Well I think he is really cute," Jessie says as they walk into a restaurant.

Eliza and Darwin walk around with Joey for awhile after seeing the entertainment for the day. 'Joey I can't believe how much you have grown since I last saw you a year ago," Eliza says when they sit down for lunch later in the day. "Ya we kangaroos grow up really fast compared to you," he say. "Thanks," Eliza says sarcastically. Joey's boys then come back for another attack on Darwin making him run for his dear life. "Eliza help me!" he screeches being chased by ten crazy boys. "We better go save him," she sighs to Joey as they walk off in his direction.

Debbie is just nuts for this sweet boy who actually took her to lunch. "Wow you are so sweet for taking me out to lunch," she says dreamily. "Not a problem besides I just love meeting new people," Jessie says as Donnie pokes around the little restaurant. Debbie doesn't pay much attention to him as she is just so focused on Jessie's cuteness. She gives a giggle as he talks to her asking about her life and day. "So Debbie what brought you to Alice Springs?" he says after they finish and walk around. "My parents travel and we came here so they could film stuff. It's our last stop before the baby is born in about two months we are heading home so he can be born there. Then we will continue our travels," Debbie says getting him attention. "Wow that's really sweet what do your parents film?" he asks. "They film wildlife and travel the world boring!" she says. "That would get boring," he says. "You agree?" Debbie asks surprised. "Ya it would be cool at first but after awhile…" he says "well I gotta get back to work do you want to hang out later?" he asks before he returns to work. "Sure I would love that," Debbie says and then he goes back in and gives her his phone number. She lets herself fall against the wall outside and just sinks to the ground. "Well Donnie maybe Australia won't be so bad after all," she says as he sits down next to her.

Later that evening Nigel finishes up his first presentation in Australia. "Well Marianne I really think our day went well even though now my leg hurts but I'm sure it will be fine by tomorrow," he says when they leave. "I'm sure it is dear just be more careful around the animals and don't provoke them," Marianne says. "Ya that's really what I did," Nigel scoffs at her thought.

To be continued…