The Flying Kiwi

We all knew this one was special. Dave has christened it 'The Flying Kiwi' (after a short lived NZ based TV show). It was handmade, 4 feet long with big white solid plastic back wheels, a wooden body and two small front wheels with a steering rope. I'm not sure where the wheels came from, but you knew, just by spinning them; they were fast.

The night before my eldest brother Matt had shown me how to burn a hole in a middle of a piece of wood with a hot poker. This was of course for the steering pin; crude but effective. First test drive would be tomorrow morning, on Mannions hill. The Kiwi's first outing.

After a few minor modifications we started the walk up the hill. Half way up, at the turn, I was stationed to watch out for oncoming cars. I could whisle loud so that was to be the warning signal. As my brothers continued the ascent I listened with proud admiration to their excited banter.

Naturally seniority dictated that the rattling object emerging from the upper hill would be piloted by my eldest brother, Matt. But as the cart got nearer it was Dave I saw. As my racing mind struggled to assess the situation, I wondered, 'Monkey (Matt) would be crazy enough to survive this, but is Dave?'. As the cart approached the brow of the lower hill, my bowels loosened as my ears registered the sound of a car approaching from the opposite direction.

I started running like the bejaysus. Never occured to me to whistle to try and stop Dave. I waved and hollered like a banshee at the approaching car. It slowed and stopped as Dave's momentum carried him out of control towards the parked car. He layed on the brakes (a wooden stick on one wheel) and ran right into the front of the car popping his head lightly off the bumper.
Not a scratch on him, thank God. After Seamus Dick (the owner of the car) shouted at us for a minute or two we walked sheepily in home with Matt. Dave smiled and says "She's fast!". We nearly broke our holes laughin'.

I had a very happy childhood. This Friday the VSO Coast volunteers are hosting a workshop on "protection of children against commercial sexual exploitation through the promotion of responsible tourism". There are so many children here that are robbed of their childhood. I believe every Child has the right to a Childhood...and the innocence devilment of a fast cart.

M.

p.s. I'm sure my brothers will correct me on the details but that's how I remember anyways.

UNICEF Report Extract (Kenya Coast)
- All data sources indicated that more than 45% of girls involved in prostitution and child sex tourism began transactional sex for cash or for goods and favours between the ages of 12 and 13 years.

- More than 10% of girls begin transactional sex below 12 years of age.