My extended family and I love it here in our jungle home. We were blessed. Beautifully, truly blessed. With no clothes and an endless sense of friendship and family, we lived as a tribe in the most peaceful place on earth…except when Muffin makes a lot of noise. Speaking of Muffin, she’s my little sister and she’s an expert hunter. Once, she hunted a whole hog and got praised for it. There are other members of my family too: Luke, Resus, Cleo, Luella, Six, Bluey, Bingo, Socks, Mike, Sue, Alston, Bella, Niles, Eefa, Dr F, Bandit, Chilli, Uncle Stripe, Aunt Trixie and Nana. I’m very glad to be raised in the jungle alongside such a loving, caring family.
In darkness, I was running through the forest, and then I stopped. I peered through the leaves and heard running water. I gently stepped out through the leaves and saw the most amazing sight: a huge waterfall, leading to the most sacred place in the jungle - Promised Falls. It was perfect for a swim. I was just about to dive in when a fierce jaguar emerged from the bushes, showing its sharp teeth. “Sybil! Dive in! It’s not dangerous.”
“Sybil! Time to wake up!” It was Mike, Luke’s father. All of us kids woke up and yawned in our comfortable bed, in our hut in the heart of the jungle. “What is it, Mike? Why have you woken us?” “We’re going for a swim!” he said. “No need for bathing gear, just water oozing right up to our skin!” “Wow! Really?!” said Bluey, “That’s great!” Cleo shuffled up next to me. “Well, Sybil, we’re in for a treat. What he means is, it’s the day we’re going to Promised Falls.” “Promised Falls? I have dreamed of that place. A jaguar came and told me to dive in.” “Animals don’t talk in the jungle, Sybil,” laughed Resus, “But our dog relatives do.” Socks barked. “You’re telling me,” said Bandit, poking his head round the door.
Outside, we had a hearty breakfast of a whole warthog Uncle Stripe hunted only yesterday, cooked on an open fire. At one point, Bandit was dramatic and said to the hog, “Sorry, mate, but I had to do this,” before eating it. We all laughed and nearly choked on our breakfast. “I bet Promised Falls will be great!” I smiled through mouthfuls of warthog flesh, “Going for a swim there. By the way, is it hot today?” “Looks like it,” said Eefa. Eefa, being a tribal witch, knew about the weather. “I haven’t been there since I was a child.” “We all haven’t been there since childhood,” said Sue, “It’ll be nice to take our children to the place where we used to play.” “Do you think there’ll be flowers?” asked Bingo. “There’s a flower field there, we used to throw petals in the air and lie amongst them. Ah, those were some good times.” “Well, the good times are passed onto the next generation,” said Chilli, the leader of the family. “Finish your breakfast and let’s get ready to go.”
When we’ve finished our most bountiful of jungle meals, we set off deep into the jungle. It was a long walk, and our feet got really muddy from walking on the moist pavement. My legs were getting tired. “Chilli, can you give me a ride on your shoulders?” “Yeah, no worries, mate,” said Chilli, and she lifted me up and placed me onto her shoulders. “Wheeeeeee!” I smiled, laughing happily. Uncle Stripe, Aunt Trixie, Bandit and Niles all gave Bluey, Bingo, Muffin and Socks rides on their shoulders too, although mud from their feet got all over their faces.
At last, Chilli pulled back the leaves, revealing a whole paradise of water and flowers. There was a huge lake accompanied by a waterfall, and there really was a flower field. Us kids were amazed! “Wow!” I gasped. “This is so beautiful,” said Cleo. “I’ve never seen anything like it!” cried Dr F. “Me neither,” said Eefa, “I feel so…amazed.” “I…I…I….” Bingo couldn’t think of anything to say, so Bandit had to impersonate her. “This water is so deep I may have to sink into it until I become a fish!” Chilli tutted and shook her head, and some of us facepalmed. The adults set us little kids down and allowed us to run towards the water.
With a SPLASH, we landed in the water. It was so deep, we felt we were in a whole new world. Bluey and I held each other paw in hand and swam towards the underwater plants that were growing wild and green, waving slowly. We hid, and as Luke, Resus and Cleo swam past, we burst out and roared, causing huge bubbles to float out of our mouths. We swam up to the surface with the others. Once we burst out of the depths, we saw that all the adults were joining in too. Some were relaxing, some were splashing each other, like Bandit was splashing Chilli. Bluey and Bingo swam up to their parents and splashed them with one almighty SPLASH! Bandit splashed Bluey and Bingo, while Niles splashed Cleo, who squealed in excitement. Us kids splashed each other and hid under the water, preparing to splash each other big time.
At the top of the waterfall, us kids relaxed and looked over the adults who were relaxing down below. The water was a little shallow so it reached up to our waists. It’s very relaxing, sitting in shallow water. It gives you time to think. Suddenly, a butterfly fluttered in and Muffin tried to catch it. She reached too high and she fell back into the water. The butterfly landed on Six’s nose, and she giggled a little and how its little legs tickled her. Luella had a go with the butterfly next. It wandered up her arm and onto her shoulder. She was giggling softly as she let it crawl onto her finger. Everyone had a go with the beautiful blue butterfly as it crawled up our arms or legs. I lay down in the water when it was my turn. The butterfly crawled along my tummy and then flew away as it touched the water.
I then had an idea. I looked down at my family below. I stood up, took a few steps back, and then ran to the edge of the waterfall. I leapt off and fell right down towards the water. I screamed in joy. “Sybil! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!” screamed Luke. But I didn’t listen, I just screamed and shot all the way down towards the lake.
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