Terrified

• Estelle Morrissey, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2008

The log summer grass swayed in the breeze. The babble of the creek - so constant in the other seasons - had been silenced by the heat weeks ago. I was trying in vain to run: my gumboots were far too large. I followed the pathetic sound of a terrified cow.
There they were. Bea the milk cow and her calf. What was wrong? Then I saw. Four mangy dingoes were snarling and salivating, snapping and panting.
My Poppy had always said to be careful of the wild beasts of Australia. He had told me how to deal with dingoes. I wish I listened. I wish he was beside me, but he wasn't. I needed to think and fast. But I couldn’t. My mind was blank.
"Bobby! Lazy child! Get here now!" my father's voice rolled over the grass.
"Dingoes! Cow paddock! Help!" was my desperate reply.
The dingoes were circling now, edging closer and closer to Bea and her calf. One - the leader - let out a terrific howl and lunged. I shut my eyes.
An explosion ripped through the paddock. A rifle. I opened my eyes to see the dingoes scampering off.
"What happened? I heard you call and I came." My father hurried over.
At school, a fifteen year old boy who is tongue tied gets called 'soppy' but my mates weren't there to egg me on. I could not speak. I could not stand. I collapsed into a heap and lost consciousness. I could still hear Bea's terrified cry in my head.

The End