Enormous Arlo

It's not been easy sharing a burrow, but will things get worse when a tarantula and a platypus find a hole in their floor?
Written especially for this podcast by Simon. 

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Speaker 1: Yeah, hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,

where you suggest the animal for us to write a

story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand

new animal story here just for you. Animal Tales Premium

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Arlow is from the Gold Coast in Australia and he

would like a story with a giant jypsland earthworm, a

platypus and a tarantula. You can learn more about these

creatures in the animal facts after the story. Now set up,

relax and are begin enormous ar Low. Hidden away in

Nrang National Park on the eastern coast of Australia is

a small creek. In wet weather, the creek would swell

with water, but most of the time it was a

narrow channel of water that was home to all kinds

of creatures. Black cockatoos and Southern greater gliders could be

spotted in the trees alongside the occasional powerful owl, while

on the ground you might be lucky to see a

short beaked echidner, or even a tusked frog. But not

everything was peaceful at the creek, for there are two

animals who did not get along. One was a tarantula,

a very large and hairy spider, while the other was

a platypus. The reason for their conflict was very simple.

The tarantula and the platypus had each dug a burrow

to live in, but foolishly had dug them so close

to one another that the connecting wall had collapsed. This

meant they now lived in what was effectively the same burrow.

Will you stop that digging, complained the platypus loudly, Can't

you see I'm trying to sleep. I'm only digging so

I can make a new room where I won't have

to listen to your snoring, replied the tarantula crossly. Can't

you do it? Quietly grumbled the platypus. Only a few

promised not to snore so much, answered back the tarantula. Sadly,

this sort of bickering was common in the burrow. It

would have made much more sense for one or both

of them to build a new burrow someplace else, but

they were as stubborn as each other, and neither wanted

to be first to leave, so while the platypus pulled

a large leaf over his head to help, she caught

him from the noise. The tarantula returned to her work.

She'd been digging steadily downwards for a while, now, sculpting

out a new chamber in the soil. She wouldn't normally

dig this deep, but it was the only way to

ensure she had some space to call her own. Using

her two front feet, she pushed the dirt aside, which

in turn was pushed back by the next pair. But

this time, as she did this, something unexpected happened. The

earth before her fell away. The tarantula had to scramble backwards,

fearing that she was about to tumble into the expanding hole,

but luckily it didn't become any larger than she was.

What is it, complained the platypus. What are you doing now?

It's none of your business, snapped back the tarantula as

she crept forward to peer into the void. It looked

like some kind of tunnel. You can't say it's none

of my business when I live here too, pointed out

the platypus as he came over to look, the tarantula

was about to argue, when from out of the hole

emerged a worm. This wasn't, though, like any worm either

of them had seen before. It was enormous. Hi there,

said the worm, observing the damage. It looks as if

there's been an accident. It was her fault, said the platypus,

pointing at the tarantula. It's like when she knocked down

the wall between our two burrows. That wasn't me, that

was you, reacted the tarantula angrily. Hey it's not a

proper plum, insisted the giant worm. Look, I'll block off

this tunnel and it can be all yours. How about that?

But what about you? Asked the tarantula. Where will you

go if we take your tunnel? Oh? I've got loads

of other tunnels, said the worm. I can afford to

lose a little one way up here? Are you saying

there are even more tunnels below us, asked the platypus.

You'd be surprised, laughed the worm. Would you like to

take a look? Full of curiosity, Both the tarantula and

the platypus said yes. As the worm slid back to

give them room, he introduced himself as Arlo, a giant

Gipsland earthworm. So you've lived underneath us this whole time,

asked the platypus. I guess so, said Arlow. It's like

I live in your basement, isn't it right? This way?

Follow me? This wasn't easy to do because the tunnel

was only wide enough for one of them at a time,

and Arlo was a very long earthworm. Fortunately, the deeper

they went, the larger the tunnels became, and soon the

three animals were able to walk side by side. Why

is everything so big down here, wondered the tarantula. Oh,

you know, got to stay busy, said Arlo. I'm always

working on improving the place. But do the tunnels really

need to be this big, asked the platypus. The roof

was way above his head. Oh they do, insisted Arlo.

Otherwise Candy wouldn't be able to move about. Is Candy

another giant Gipsland earthworm, asked the tarantula. No, laughed Arlo.

As the tunnel opened out into a rounded chamber, Candy's

a koala. Sure enough, there was a cooala in the

center of the room reading a book. Oh, visitors, she said,

I'm just giving them the tour, said Arlo. Ha ha ha,

chuckled the platypus. I guess if the koala is reading

a book, then this must be the library. The tarantula giggled,

thinking the joke was funny, until Arlo said, no, this

is just the reading room. The library is through here.

The neighboring chamber was colossal, lined with book shelves from

floor to ceiling. The tarantula and the platypus stared with

open mouths. You built all this, asked the tarantula. Like

I said, smiled Arlow. Got to stay busy now this

way They were soon heading along another tunnel, which finished

in another chamber. This one was full of gym equipment

and even had mirrors on the wall. I had no

idea all this was down here, confessed the platypus. It

is important to stay fit and healthy, Arlo said. Exercise

is good for you. Oh, I couldn't agree more, nodded

the platypus. I keep fit by swimming in the creek.

That's nice, said Arlo. I just used the pool. You

have a swimming pool down here, gulped the tarantula. Just

a little one, said Arlo. It's through here. It wasn't

quite as small as the earthworm had made out, and

there was also a jacuzzi, a plunge pool, and a sauna. Wow,

said the platypus quietly. It's not bad, is it, said Arlo.

I'm thinking of adding a wave machine next once I

finished the cinema room. You have a cinema room, gasped

the tarantula. We'll have, said Arlo. It's been tricky getting

the surround sound speakers fitted, but I'm almost there. Fortunately.

I like a challenge, yeah, said the platypus. You did say,

got to stay busy. Do you guys like games? Arlo asked,

leading them down yet another tunnel. What do you think

he means, whispered the tarantula. Board games or computer games?

As it turned out, the giant earthworm had meant both.

One side of the next chamber had a huge screen

under which satur mole altitude of games, consoles and controllers.

The opposite side of the room had a large table

and a wall stacked high with board game boxes and tins.

This is where we spend most evenings, said Arlo. It's

great fun. Are we very deep right now? Wondered the platypus. Yes,

i'd say so, judging by the color of the earth

in the wall, said Arlo. But in truth, I've never

measured it. But aren't you worried you'll go too deep?

Asked the tarantula. I'm not a miner, laughed Arlo. I'm

an earthworm. If I hit rock, I stop, then dig

sideways instead. There's plenty of unused space down here, so

I make the most of it. They were on the

move again, heading along another tunnel, when they had to

step aside to allow a blue tongue skink to pass them.

He was carrying a milkshake. Is the machine working okay now, Larry,

Arlo asked, better than ever, grinned the lizard as he

sucked up a mouthful of milkshake through a straw. Hey,

do either of you want a milkshake, Arlo asked? Or

can I offer you fruit juice, tea coffee or a slushy?

Normally I just drink creek water, said the platypus, sadly.

But you've got everything down here, Not quite everything, said Arlow.

The pizza oven has never worked properly, and the chocolate

fountain has been giving me trouble. Look, this has been

very nice, said the tarantula. But I really think we

should be heading back to our own burrow now. Oh

I see, said Arlow, sounding a little disappointed he'd not

shown them the Bowling Alley. Yet it's a long way up,

so probably best we take the lift. It was a

squeeze fitting a platypus, a tarantula and a giant earthworm

into the elevator, and yet somehow they managed it. Arlow

hit the correct button and up they went. Well, thanks

for the tour, said the platypus. I'm sure of what

else to say my pleasure, said Arlow. You know, I've

never come across a tarantula and a platypus living together before.

Oh we don't live together, said the tarantula quickly. Well,

only by accident. It's been a little awkward, you see,

said the platypus. We hadn't planned on sharing, but we've

tried to make the best of it. Since the wall

fell down, we argue a lot. You see, if only

it wasn't so cramped. It's why I was digging a

new room, explained the tarantula. As the lift doors opened,

they were back at the narrow corridor which meant that

they'd have to get out one at a time to

return to the burrow. Before I go, Can I make

a suggestion, said Arlo. O K said the platypus, Go ahead.

The giant earthworm smiled at them both. When your wall

fell down, two burrows became one. Two very different animals

have struggled to make living together work. I know you

say that, you argue, but you've been getting along just

fine while you've been with me. The tarantula and the

platypus nodded. They hadn't realized it until Arlo had said.

Now it seems that another wall has crumbled, said the earthworm,

connecting your burrow to mine. What was once three burrows

is now one giant one. What are you suggesting, asked

the tarantula, cautiously, That you don't go back to that

poky bit of burrow up there, but come back down

and enjoy everything that the bigger burrow has to offer,

said Arlo. But where would we sleep, asked the platypus. Oh,

I've got plenty of bedrooms, laughed the earthworm. You can

take your pick. That's what Candy and Larry did. Can

we use the gym, asked the tarantula, and the pool,

wondered the platypus. Hopefully you can use everything, laughed Arlo.

And if you think there's something missing, well I'll add

it to my list. So what do you say? The

tarantula and the platypus grinned at each other. Let's do it,

they said together. Arlo pressed the down button, closing the doors.

Oh it's great timing that you're here. We could have

the grand opening of the cinema room to night. But

don't you need to finish fitting the speakers, asked the platypus. Yes,

there is that, admitted Arlo. But I might just have time.

You will if you let us help, said the tarantula.

Would you mind, asked Arlo, looking surprised. It's going to

be a lot of work. It's as you said, said

the platypus. It's good to be busy. Animals fat giant

gipsland earthworms grow to around one meter in length that's

three point three feet, with a width of two centimeters

which is one inch. Some though, can reach triple that size.

The platypus may sleep in a burrow, but it spends

most of its waking hours underwater. It's a predator hunting

for things to eat, such as insects, fresh water shrimp,

and even tadpoles. Australian tarantulas are also known as whistling spiders,

barking spiders, and bird eating spiders, which is odd as

they don't appear to eat birds. However, they do like insects, lizards, frogs,

and other spiders. Thank you for your excellent suggestions aar looe.

We hope that you all enjoyed the story. Wherever you're

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