Tigers on the Beach by Doug MacLeod

doesn’t climb the tree. Instead it climbs Mr Panozzo. The koala clutches at his striped pyjama pants. They begin to slip. Desperately, Mr Panozzo grasps the top of his pyjama pants with one hand and tries to shoo away the koala with the other. It maintains its grip.
    â€˜I’m sorry about this, Mr Panozzo,’ says Nathan, ‘but it’s probably best if you let the koala have the pants. I don’t think he’s going to let go.’
    Two children burst into fits of laughter.
    â€˜It’s not funny, children,’ the mother says.
    â€˜Stop that,’ orders the father, even though he’s trying to stifle a laugh himself.
    â€˜I am
not
removing my pyjama pants,’ says Mr Panozzo.
    â€˜I’m afraid you may have to.’ Nathan takes charge. ‘Please, everybody, I think Mr Panozzo would like some privacy.’
    The group of holiday-makers turns away.
    â€˜Go back to your cabins,’ orders Mr Panozzo.
    â€˜But we want to make sure the bear is all right,’ says one of the children.
    â€˜It’s not a bear, it’s a marsupial,’ says Nathan.
    â€˜Please, everyone, return to your cabins,’ Mum says. ‘There is nothing to see here.’
    This is patently untrue, but people drift away. Mr Panozzo glares down at the marsupial gripping his pyjama leg. Dad races to fetch a dressing gown for Mr Panozzo to wear. With the look of a beaten man, Mr Panozzo lets go of his pyjama bottoms and wriggles out of them. Sure enough, the koala wanders off into the night, one of its claws still gripping Mr Panozzo’s night attire. The pants are never seen again. Dad helps Mr Panozzo into one of his old dressing gowns. It’s a bad fit.
    â€˜I’ll be departing in the morning,’ says Mr Panozzo.
    â€˜Please stay,’ Mum says. ‘This won’t happen again. You’ll be able to write your book in peace. It must be interesting, being an author.’
    Even Mum, with her powerful people skills, cannot charm Mr Panozzo. But she keeps trying. She asks him what his book is about, and he replies it is a guide to Australian holiday resorts. He’s probably lying, but Dad groans.
    Once the guests have returned to their cabins, Nathan, Mum, Dad and I wander back from the pine trees. Grandma is watching from her cabin doorway. Nathan is angrier than I have ever seen him. He steps up to Grandma and looks her right in the eye. ‘Your possum trap just caught a koala.’
    â€˜It’s not my fault,’ Grandma says.
    â€˜Of course it is.’
    â€˜But I didn’t want to catch a koala. It’s a possum trap. It’s got a label saying so.’
    â€˜Unfortunately, koalas can’t read,’ says Nathan.
    â€˜You shouldn’t have set the trap,’ says Mum.
    â€˜I didn’t,’ says Grandma.
    â€˜Then who did?’
    â€˜Stanley Krongold.’
    Dad turns. ‘Krongold?’
    â€˜I spoke with him at the store. He doesn’t like the possums either. He came and set the trap for me.’
    â€˜Why on earth would you have anything to do with that man?’ Dad fumes. ‘He doesn’t have a decent bone in his body. He’s a liar, a conman, and he’s got an orange head.’
    Mum rests a hand on Dad’s back.
    â€˜Go inside, Ken,’ Mum says. ‘I’ll handle this.’
    â€˜Can I borrow the torch?’ says Xander.
    Dad is too muddled to ask why Xander needs the torch, and you should always ask Xander questions like that. He merely hands it over without a word.

Mr Panozzo leaves without paying. He doesn’t touch the guest book. What would he write?
A very nice place to visit if you want your pyjama pants stolen by a native bear.
    â€˜Good morning,’ says Dad, as I enter the office. He looks as though he hasn’t slept.
    â€˜Hi, Dad.’
    â€˜Everything will be fine, Adam,’ he says. ‘Don’t look so worried.’
    â€˜You’re the one who