Penguin Bloom

Mum loves the ocean.

She always has.

Mum met Dad on the beach when they were teenagers.

They've been together ever since.

That's me when I was four.

- -

Rueben's my middle brother.

He's always been annoying.

And then Oli.

Lucky last.

And that's us.

The Blooms.

Everything was pretty much perfect.

But then last year happened.

- - Come on.

- You're it, Oli. - No, I'm not.

Come back!

- You can't catch me. - Gotcha!

- Us kids wanted to go to Disneyland. -

But Mum and Dad chose Thailand instead.

I liked Thailand.

Mum!

- - Oh.

-Oh no! - Oh no!

- Come on. Let's go! -

-Here you go. -Thank you.

- -Go away!

- Quick, quick, quick. Come on, Roo! - Here we go.

- -

- Yeah! -

- Whoo! -

Come on, Mum.

- - Sammy.

- -

- -

-Mum! -

- But I hate last year. - Sam! Sam!

- Hey, boys. -

- Come on! -Boys!

- -

I wanna go!

- -

Boys, I've told you about this. Roo!

Stop playing, please.

Please.

Rueben or Oli, can you go and see if Mum is okay?

- I did it yesterday. -I did it the day before.

-Yeah, yeah, you're overworked. -Noah should do it.

It doesn't matter who did it yesterday or the day before.

I'm just asking you to check on Mum, please.

- - Why can't Noah do it?

- Where is Noah? - He's on the roof in his chair.

Uniforms.

Pants… pants off, uniforms on.

-Stop it! -I'll have a whole-grain sandwich.

- - Noah! He's upstairs?

- -

- Noah? -

- I… I bet he isn't, only you. - Noah?

A bit of help down here.

'Kay.

- -

- Help, boys. Boys, come on. -

- -

Mum was pretty scared in the hospital.

But at least there, she wasn't the only one stuck in bed.

-Hang on, Sam. - It's okay.

- Okay? -I'm fine.

Mum broke her back at what the doctors call T6…

…but what Mum calls her bra strap.

She can't feel anything from there down.

That catheter's staying in. I'll just get this out.

Except when she has the hiccups.

Dad, there's no more milk!

I'm okay.

- Noah drank it all. -

Can you close the door, please?

- -

Oh, and we're ready to go.

Is this gonna hurt again?

Hmm, not if you land properly.

- -Oh! Are you okay?

- - Watch yourself.

Come on, Roo. I've asked you not to do that already.

Can you move this please, Roo?

- Look, move that for your mum. - Noah?

Turn the TV off.

Mum, I can't do my laces.

Um…

Dad knows how to tie the best knots.

- Can I go to Kai's after school? - Not today.

- Why not? - Out, you lot. Go.

Oh, shit.

Hey, it's fine.

Can we buy our own lunches today? It's Friday.

-Can I get a pie? -Ooh, can I get a sausage roll?

Yeah, of course you can.

- Yes! - Mmm!

You've only been home a little while. It will get better. I promise.

Come on, Dad. We're gonna be late.

I'm sorry, Sam.

I love you.

I'll call you after drop-off.

Give us a kiss before you go.

Bye, Mum.

- Bye, sweetie. Have a good day. - Bye, Mum.

- Hey, boys. Come on, hurry. -Take this off before you go to school.

Go, go, go, go, everybody.

-Bye, Noah. - Bags the front.

Listen, guys! Hey! Do not fight, you two!

- I'm the oldest. - You're always the oldest.

- Duh! - You're in the back, Noah.

- -

[newscaster speaking indistinctly on radio]

Now, a quick look at today's local surfing breaks.

Light westerly winds are bringing fantastic surfing conditions

with waves around one to two meters.

Conditions will be better in the morning as ground swell

mixed with those offshore winds

should bring well-formed waves that break cleanly.

So, if you can make the most of it, you'll have a cracking morning.

Looking further ahead at another fine day tomorrow…

Coo-ee! Only me!

- -

Hello, darling.

- -

Hi.

Hmm.

What are you doing sitting here in the dark?

Nothing.

You need some light and fresh air in here.

Hmm, why don't you take your book out onto the lawn?

Or do your exercises.

Remember what the doctor in rehab said. You've gotta keep your spirits up.

Yeah.

Or try one of those podcast thingies.

I bumped into Bron in the supermarket,

and she reckons she can be hanging out the washing

and solving a murder all at the same time.

I'd love to have a special lunch when Kylie gets back.

Sorry?

What did you say, darling?

I didn't say anything.

Oh, thought you did.

Didn't Cam change these sheets?

Just leave them, please, Mum.

Oh dear.

What's this?

- -

Well done.

Well, it fits over here.

-A cool cubby… - Great.

One of my speakers there.

- -