The Adventures of Robin Brawl: Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2: Preparations

That night, while everyone was asleep, Robin started packing for his adventure. He looked around for a big sack, to put in all the things he needed during his adventure. He soon found one on the top on his bookrack. He used his skills of jumping and jumped from his bed. He held on tight on the bookrack’s top and pulled up hard to reach to the top.

Robin had been practising this all the time. He went to the park almost every week and practised jumping, hooking and balancing for when he needed it.

After getting the sack, Robin quietly jumped down. He then looked into the refrigerator for food to take along. He took out some tinned food, packets of biscuits and some packets of raisins. Then, he took out a whole box of water and a big packet of rice. Next, he brought out some matches and a few pencils. Just as he thought he was done, he saw a big rope on the very top of a big cupboard. There was absolutely no way to jump on it. So Robin climbed up the cupboard, holding and stepping on every knob. 

“It might come in handy too,” Robin thought. 

Robin ran through the whole house and looked for anything; sticks, lighters, papers, hand-held fans, boxes of tissue, recyclable bags and old books. He even sneaked into a cupboard and grabbed a few pillows and a couple of blankets. Blankets that were soft and cozy. They have never been used so it smelt quite fresh as a new one. He was a real smart and intelligent for a 13 year old.

“Not a bad night’s work,” Robin said to himself. “Tomorrow, I plan everything out. And get a few more things, if I see any.”

The next morning, at school, Robin looked around for anything useful. He put all of them in a little plastic bag to bring home. First, he saw a bunch of wooden rulers. He took a few of them. Then he looked down on the floor and saw something he would really need. A small knife. He looked around and made sure nobody was looking and he quickly took the knife and put it into the plastic bag. Then he bought some food from the canteen and stuffed them into the plastic bag. The canteen operator as so amazed by Robin’s action that his eyes nearly budged out of his head. Robin looked at the canteen operator’s eyes and grinned, then gave a little giggle. He knew that the canteen operator was confused.

Robin then went up to class. He found a few copper wires and strings. “I might need them. But I have no clue why I need them,” Robin said to himself. He was quite pleased with himself for all the progress he has done. “I wonder how Larry is doing,” Robin wondered.

For Larry, he was not as lucky as Robin. He tried to take a few ropes from the top of a cupboard. Bur fell down. He tried to creep into his Mother’s bedroom for a bag, but got caught. Fortunately, he got a nail clipper without anyone noticing. He knew that he needed to clip his nails or it will grow extra long, and he hated that.

By evening, everything was almost ready. Robin sat down on the couch. He thought whether he should tell his parents about his adventure. If he does not, they will be worried on the next day because he will be gone. He would have no excuse of running away. So, he decided to tell them.

“Mum, Dad, can I ask you something?” Robin asked his parents, shyly. 

“Is there anything wrong, dear?” Mrs. Brawl asked. 

“Larry and I are planning to go on an adventure somewhere far, far away,” Robin said. 

There was a pause. Mr. and Mrs. Brawl though hard. “Well, alright... Honey, you go buy loads of food for the two of them. I’ll pack his things,” Mrs. Brawl said to her husband, Mr. Brawl. Mr. Brawl and Mrs. Brawl assumed that they were going to an island nearby.

They got everything ready. Robin got a whole lot more food, ready for the next day’s adventure. Mr. Brawl and Mrs. Brawl gave a lot of tips on surviving out there in the woods. They even searched up the internet for ways to climb trees, hang on vines, row a boat and build a little place to stay. They really supported their son and helped him get ready. Robin was thankful that he told Mr. and Mrs. Brawl about his adventure. He was nearly ready.

While they were discussing on the adventure, they suddenly heard a knock on the door. Robin went to see who it was. To his surprise, it was Larry and his parents. Larry had told his parents all about it. 

“It’s alright. I’ve told my parents too,” Robin said, comfortingly. 

“I heard about your adventure, so I want to give you my old boat and pair of oars,” Mr. Thomas said, smiling with his bushy beard.

“Great. Thanks Mr. Thomas. Now all I need is a axe, or a saw. Oh, and some ropes too,” said Robin. 

Mrs. Thomas took out all that was needed. “I knew you would ask for these,” she said.

Everything was ready. Robin got a few more bunches of twigs. “It’s set,” Robin said. He was more prepared than ever.

Just as they were about to depart, Robin suddenly gave a loud exclamation. “Aah! Ooh! Eh!” he went on. “Hey! What’s the matter? You seem as if you have gone mad,” Larry said, trying to calm Robin and his weird expression.

“I’ve just realised something,” Robin said. 

“WHAT NOW?” Larry asked at a high pitch.

“We need a basin, some clear plastic, a small pebble, a small bucket, small enough to put in the middle of the basin, a medium-size bucket, and two cups,” Robin said.

“What for?” Larry asked.

“This way, I can make a little basin with sea water in it. Then the water will follow the concept of condensation and evaporate, leaving the salt below. The water will then slide to the middle on the clear plastic because the small pebble will be in the middle, making the plastic bend. Then, the water will fall into the small bucket, just below the the pebble. There will only be clear water in the small bucket then, making it safe to drink. We can then poor it into the two cups, for two of us to share the water,” Robin explained.

“Oh gosh, Robin Brawl, my son!” said Mrs. Brawl. “What a splendid idea! I would have never thought of that.”

“But then what about the medium-sized bucket? What do we do with that?” Larry asked, halfway puzzled. He could not see the use of the medium-sized bucket.

“That will be for us to scoop the sea water,” Robin said, smiling. His smile grew bigger and bigger. “ And even if we don’t use all of it for sea water, if we’re not near the sea, we could find a lake somewhere. And the same thing that happens to salt that will be left in the basin, the dirt will be left instead.”

“Hmm,” Mr. Thomas hummed. “Not a bad idea.”

“It’s wonderful!” said Mr. Brawl. “I wish I was as smart as my boy.”

“Don’t mention it,” Robin said, blushing as red as beetroot.

They all laughed at Robin’s red face. Robin did not quite like it, but soon joined in the merriness and laughed as well.