My grand-daughter Kristy Brown when eight years old told me that if I didn't write the story about Possum, she would.  Here is her story of the Possum which was published at her school in Jamestown, S.A. and a poem she wrote when 9 years old to mark the launching of this book on December 9, 1984.

One day a little boy asked his parents if he could have a pet of his own but his parents wouldn't let him.

So he ran away to the wild life and he found a log to sleep under.

He lived there for twenty-five years.

Then my Pompy, the detective found him.

They became good friends.

This all happened at the River Murray.

Then Pompy and I went to see him because he was lonely, and I was on T.V. with Pop.  I laughed.

Kristy Brown 15-7-83

In 1959 Possum was found,
out in the wildlife just roaming around.
He was very, very brave in the wildlife,
He didn't have a father or a mother or a wife.
That man was kind hearted to the animals and sheep,
when the people were in bed and the sun was yet to peep.
He'd often play with the animals to keep them company,
If I were an animal too, I would like him to look after me.
He lived out at the Murray where the weather's mostly fine,
he never has the occasional drink of sherry, beer or wine.
He was a strange man after all, when the rain began to fall,
and he'd hide inside a hollow log and never see the mist or fog.
But one very sad day, he floated away.
To the heavenly sky, yes, he did die.

 

Kirsty Brown, December 1984

 

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