Day 4: Best Childhood Memory

I had a tragically happy childhood, I say tragically because I believe this is probably a disadvantage for a writer. What were my parents thinking? How dare they be supportive and loving! Where was the divorce and misery, the alcoholism or violence?—things I could draw on as a writer?! So, for this reason I found it a bit tricky to decide on just one ‘best’ childhood memory.

I could’ve chosen playing under the sprinkler with my sisters and the neighbourhood kids while our mums sunned themselves on banana lounges; being given musk sticks at Nan's; building sandcastles with my friend Nikki down at Killarney beach then trying to dig tunnels underneath without them collapsing; riding our bikes around & around the court where we lived; or baking scones with Nan. But instead I’m going to share a piece I originally wrote as a poem called ‘In the hospital’ but later expanded into this piece about flying a homemade kite with my Pa.

The Kite

In the hospital you said,

“We used to have fun, you and I, when you were little.”

You held my hand tightly and I couldn’t feel my fingers. I thought that must show there was strength in you yet, even now – your height diminished by the bed and the hospital-white covers, a company logo printed in blue on one untucked corner. I made a study of the linen. You said,

“You were a terror, always knocking down the houses I’d built of cards.”

I had forgotten that but you were right, you would build them just so I could knock them over. I would watch the cards tumble to the tabletop some showing their mysterious value, others displaying patterned backs in blue and white. Shoulders squared.

I leant forward in the uncomfortable chair left for uncomfortable visitors. Smiled. Laughed too loudly. Nodded.

I talked about the kite we built together in your shed. A memory green-tinged by the fibreglass skylight. The kite wouldn’t fly. Over and over you threw it into the air as I ran pulling the string against the prevailing wind only to watch as the kite spiralled out of control, diving into the unforgiving earth. I laughed then, as if the terrible kamikaze flight was funny, but I wanted it to soar. On one spectacular crash landing, the frame broke. You did a hasty repair and, finally, it flew. Weeks later I cried, secretly, to find out you had thrown the kite away. It was only sticks, some string and a garbage bag, but I had wanted to keep it, forever.

In the hospital, you held my hand and said,

“Anyway, ninety-one’s pretty good,” and I laughed as if you were joking, kissed your cheek and left. I walked away as if nothing was wrong, as if you weren’t trying to tell me something important.