Pocketful of fun

Lolita Harper

Girls lined up at the Boys & Girls Club of the Harbor Area in Costa

Mesa on Wednesday afternoon to get a kiss from a future Hollywood star.

The prospective celebrity greeted his audience graciously and made his

way toward one lucky girl for a little smooch.

Nicole Macias closed her eyes in anticipation as young Aussie Roo

leaned in, but just as he did, he opted to skip the kiss and started

chewing her hair.

The 8-month-old kangaroo apparently had more training to do before

starring in love scenes.

But Nicole didn’t mind.

“I thought that it was cute and funny,” the 11-year-old said.

Kari Rush, who trains animals for movies, treated a select group of

kids to an hour session with Aussie Roo as a reward for doing their

homework. The Costa Mesa resident and mother of two told the children

about Aussie while the baby kangaroo worked the crowd.

About 15 Boys & Girls Club members sat in a circle on the floor in the

club’s learning center, petting the small patch of light brown hair

between his ears or feeding him kibble. The presence of the small, gray

animal -- with a heart-shaped nose and white-tipped tail -- inspired a

host of questions from the curious crowd.

“Can he punch me right now?”

“Does it hurt when you pull his tail?”

“Why doesn’t he hop right now?”

Rush answered all the inquiries and enlightened the group with

marsupial facts. Although he is still relatively small, Aussie will grow

to be 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, Rush said. Quite a contrast from his

birth size, which was about the size of a bumblebee. The animals continue

to develop in the mother’s pouch and finally poke their heads out after

three months, Rush said.

“I thought it was really interesting,” said Evric Aragon, 10. “I can’t

believe he was the size of a bee.”

Aussie lives in an animal compound in Frazier Park, where he learns

the tools of the movie trade. Rush brought him to Orange County for a

host of educational appearances.

“This is our eighth classroom today,” Rush said.

Aussie did not disappoint his fans. He worked the room, greeting the

kids, giving kisses and chewing more hair.

Nicole finally got the little peck she was hoping for earlier.

“It felt kind of like a cat’s tongue but softer,” she said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .