Sometimes I ask the others if they remember holding their breath so Dad would come home safe. They talk about going round the lambs, and shifting the steers with Blue, and the time we took the spuds on Old Pomp to Mick O’Halloran’s place, but they don’t seem to remember how Mum wanted to go to school with us on Old Pomp, and how she was going to tie all the little girls’ plaits together, play barefoot for the All Blacks, and eat the other kids’ lunches.
I try to remind them of the time the circus came to Waharoa, and the time Mum was going to sell us, and how we tried to sell her, but I don’t think anybody else but me remembers everything that happened, those years we flew to school in a Lancaster bomber with Billy Kemp circling us in his Messerschmitt 109, going “Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka!”, those years when Dad was away at the war, and we were growing up, and Mum went funny.
Also by Jack Lasenby
Charlie the Cheeky Kea 1976
Rewi the Red Deer 1976
The Lake 1987
The Mangrove Summer 1989
Uncle Trev 1991
Uncle Trev and the Great South Island Plan 1991
Uncle Trev and the Treaty of Waitangi 1992
The Conjuror 1992
Harry Wakatipu 1993
Dead Man’s Head 1994
The Waterfall 1995
The Battle of Pook Island 1996
Because We Were the Travellers 1997
Uncle Trev’s Teeth 1997
Taur 1998
The Lies of Harry Wakatipu 2000
Kalik 2001
Aunt Effie 2002
Harry Wakatipu Comes the Mong 2003
Aunt Effie’s Ark 2003
Aunt Effie and the Island that Sank 2004
What Makes a Teacher? 2004
Mr Bluenose 2005
The Tears of Harry Wakatipu 2006
Copyright
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of Longacre Press and the author.
Jack Lasenby asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
© Jack Lasenby
ISBN 9781775531180
First published by Longacre Press, 2006
30 Moray Place, Dunedin, New Zealand.
A catalogue record for this book is available
Cover and book design by Christine Buess.
Cover illustrations by David Elliot.
Printed by McPherson’s Printing Group, Australia.
www.longacre.co.nz
More Longacre Press books from Jack Lasenby
Mr Bluenose
by Jack Lasenby
A warm and gentle story set during the Depression era.
There’s always something to do at Mr Bluenose’s place. He tells stories while you give him a hand. Stories about how he got his name, how he rode a whale to London, and was so seasick for so long in the crow’s nest that he ran away from sea to Waharoa and planted his orchard.
A glorious romp through a long hot summer…
‘Great read aloud stories.’
‘… Jack Lasenby remains one of NZ’s foremost writers for children… a cross between Spike Milligan and Roald Dahl…’ Tomorrow’s Schools Today
‘Suspend your disbelief and be prepared to be entertained in inimitable Lasenby fashion.’ Talespinner Magazine
‘…affectionate anecdotes are nicely woven with Lasenby’s unique take on New Zealand culture.’ Raymond Huber, Otago Daily Times
ISBN 1 877361 06 2
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The award-winning ‘Aunt Effie’ series:
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Aunt Effie’s Ark
and
Aunt Effie and
the Island that Sank
These three books introduce us to the marvellous adventures of the phenomenal Aunt Effie and her eager 26 nephews and nieces. If you like outrageous yarns, plenty of wacky fun and excitement then these stories of mayhem and delight are for you.
‘…original story-telling at its very best, and what’s more it is firmly set in New Zealand. Great stuff!’ Judges’ report, New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2005
‘There’s a wealth of knowledge contained in these pages for young minds avid for curious words, incredible facts and crazy comedy.’ Reading Time
‘Jack Lasenby is the veritable master of the tall tale …’ Frances Plumpton, Magpies
ISBNs 1 877135 72 0, 1 877135 84 4, 1 877361 01 1
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