The yellow Vauxhall car careered into the compound parking quietly and gently just outside the concrete garage.
Morris watched keenly as his father descended from the saloon car.
Amadu, the Fula servant, was quick to make himself available.
Together with his master, he opened the back boot.
"Take this upstairs.
Ah, look out! Handle it carefully," Amadu obediently and carefully took the big box out and laid it carefully on the concrete floor.
He then rushed back to close the steel gate.
"What is it, Daddy?" asked Morris, who for some time now had been looking at the box curiously and expectantly.
"Let's go upstairs," his father said, holding his hand.
proudly and lovingly.
"You think I don't know? I know what it is.
You think I don't know.
" "Come on.
Just you wait and see," Morris's dad was already leading him into the house.
"Daddy, Daddy! Why not show Mummy? She'll be happy to see that you've bought it so soon.
" "Bought what?" the mother asked.
"Your sewing machine.
Daddy's just bought it.
" "Don't mind the braggart, Margery.
It's a tricycle I've bought him and that has ...
" "Thank you! Thank you Daddy for that! Thanks very much!" He was now skipping all over the place and around him in excitement and jubilation.
"You're indeed a darling.
" "Enough of that now, Morris.
Let's take a peep, John.
" Margery opened the box as her increasingly frisky son, Morris, watched eagerly.
She brought out the tricycle.
Everyone admired it.
It was brand-new, red and as glossy as a new mirror.
"It's English made.
Must be very good and durable.
English bicycles are always very good.
" "That's precisely why I bought it," the father said with pride.
Morris smiled approvingly at him.
It was indeed strong and satisfying.
"But Morris, I hope you'll take good care of it.
Don't be rough with it, you hear?" "I promise you, Mum.
I'll be very careful with it.
You wait and see.
" The shiny red tricycle brought him much joy.
When next his cousins, Kunle, Dayo and Michael, visited them Morris was loud and boastful: "Come and see my brand-new tricycle.
" In no time he had brought out the wooden box.
The moving machine satisfied their eager eyes.
"It's a good toy, this one," Kunle said.
"This was the one Uncle Bisor in America promised to send me on my next birthday," said Dayo, the youngest.
"You think Uncle Bisor ever remembers promises? I'm sure he's already forgotten.
" "In any case we can now ride Morris's which is here with us.
" "Let's take it down.
" They lifted the machine out of the box, their hands shaking with excitement.
They placed it on the floor.
Each took turns on it round the extensive paved compound surrounding the house.
The others kept cheering or jeering them on or off as they took turns in riding round the yellow house.
Then all of a sudden Dayo and Michael burst out into protest.
"Kunle, you're cheating.
You've done more than one round.
No! No! we'll not take that.
Morris! Take your toy away.
He's a cheat.
" "Come on, cry babies.
Come on and have a ride, since that's what you want.
" The noise of the feuding children attracted their parents from upstairs.
"Why can't you play without quarrelling?" Daddy asked.
"It's this Kunle who caused it," both Dayo and Michael declared.
"Well forget about it and go on playing," Mummy coaxed, patting both boys gently on the head.
"I've just been telling your dad to take you to the fun fair next Saturday.
" "Ah! Funfair, Mum? Did you say we're going to the funfair? Let's go at all costs, Mummy.
" They were all getting agog with excitement now.
"Yes indeed it's true.
We've been planning a family outing to the fair grounds.
But now I'm beginning to wonder whether this is the sort of behavior you should take along there.
" "We promise you, Dad, to behave ourselves," they pledged solemnly.
"Okay then, let's not hear any more noise like that again.
" The parents then went back indoors.
Soon, the children were riding joyously once more.
There was now much cheering and laughing.
Everything was done fairly.
On the Saturday fixed for the visit, Morris and his cousins were full of great anxiety and excitement to see the show.
They got ready long before their parents.
As they waited, they played and reminded each other of funfairs they had read about in stories.
When their parents were ready they all huddled in the back seat with sister, Miriam, and their cousin, Issa, a girl.
They soon arrived at the fair ground.
It was brightly lit with various splendid colors.
Sweet music flowed from all corners of the busy grounds.
But the smell of human bodies was overpowering.
Thousands of people were rushing in to see this yearly event.
Morris and the rest of their family waded through a thick crowd fighting to buy tickets.
Father had bought theirs in advance, so they didn't need to fight.
One of the guards recognized Daddy.
He made way for them to enter at once.
They heard shouts of protest.
"Advantage! we must stop this corruption in this country!" But they paid no heed.
They were now comfortably in.
First, they looked at the galaxy of attractions and activities.
Then Morris and his male cousins went forward to try the merry-go-round.
As he rode round with many others, he shouted in ecstasy.
The blood boiled within their veins at the flashing speed.
"Oh ooh! I'm dying!" The attendants, always on the alert, surged forward to the rescue.
Then opening his eyes and smiling calmly, Morris assured them, "It's nothing.
" "Kunle, look at me driving," he called as he held tight to the steering wheel as if summoning strength to urge it to greater speed.
"Ahahhahhahhaahahhh!" laughed the others.
bluffing, as if he's the one driving.
" "Look at Morris" "Don't you know?" Morris boasted with his arms held akimbo.
At that instant the machine ground to a halt.
Another set got on.
They rode for another fifteen minutes.
Morris's girl cousins had joined them.
They had a lot of interesting stories to tell.
Morris became eager to see the acrobatic display they had seen, so he appealed to his dad.
"Let's go and see it as well, Daddy.
I want to see it in reality.
I've only seen them on tele.
Besides, they look too good to be true.
" "It's getting dark.
Let's be going now.
" "If even for five minutes, Mum, it will be okay.
" Many amazing tricks thrilled them there.
Three men raced on a thin rubber cable.
A motorcycle sped round a vertical wall and through the ceiling with the rider's head facing the floor.
It was almost as fast as lightning.
"That's terrific, Dad.
How could anyone do such fantastic deeds? Wonderful!" "They're impossible for a normal person," stressed Kunle.
"Impossible! I bet you, I can do that at home.
" "Perhaps you want to die," the others retorted.
"Ah! None of that here! That's not the nicest thing to say to one's cousin, is it?" "Sorry, Aunty.
" "Leave them, Mum.
Let them wait.
They'll see something soon," Morris said determinedly.
But back home his trial with the unusual deeds only brought him back to reality.
He now contents himself again with ordinary human deeds.
He has resumed riding his tricycle on level ground, in the safety of their compound, often joined by his less favored friends in the area.
He hopes with time to start riding bicycles with them out into the streets.
Morris watched keenly as his father descended from the saloon car.
Amadu, the Fula servant, was quick to make himself available.
Together with his master, he opened the back boot.
"Take this upstairs.
Ah, look out! Handle it carefully," Amadu obediently and carefully took the big box out and laid it carefully on the concrete floor.
He then rushed back to close the steel gate.
"What is it, Daddy?" asked Morris, who for some time now had been looking at the box curiously and expectantly.
"Let's go upstairs," his father said, holding his hand.
proudly and lovingly.
"You think I don't know? I know what it is.
You think I don't know.
" "Come on.
Just you wait and see," Morris's dad was already leading him into the house.
"Daddy, Daddy! Why not show Mummy? She'll be happy to see that you've bought it so soon.
" "Bought what?" the mother asked.
"Your sewing machine.
Daddy's just bought it.
" "Don't mind the braggart, Margery.
It's a tricycle I've bought him and that has ...
" "Thank you! Thank you Daddy for that! Thanks very much!" He was now skipping all over the place and around him in excitement and jubilation.
"You're indeed a darling.
" "Enough of that now, Morris.
Let's take a peep, John.
" Margery opened the box as her increasingly frisky son, Morris, watched eagerly.
She brought out the tricycle.
Everyone admired it.
It was brand-new, red and as glossy as a new mirror.
"It's English made.
Must be very good and durable.
English bicycles are always very good.
" "That's precisely why I bought it," the father said with pride.
Morris smiled approvingly at him.
It was indeed strong and satisfying.
"But Morris, I hope you'll take good care of it.
Don't be rough with it, you hear?" "I promise you, Mum.
I'll be very careful with it.
You wait and see.
" The shiny red tricycle brought him much joy.
When next his cousins, Kunle, Dayo and Michael, visited them Morris was loud and boastful: "Come and see my brand-new tricycle.
" In no time he had brought out the wooden box.
The moving machine satisfied their eager eyes.
"It's a good toy, this one," Kunle said.
"This was the one Uncle Bisor in America promised to send me on my next birthday," said Dayo, the youngest.
"You think Uncle Bisor ever remembers promises? I'm sure he's already forgotten.
" "In any case we can now ride Morris's which is here with us.
" "Let's take it down.
" They lifted the machine out of the box, their hands shaking with excitement.
They placed it on the floor.
Each took turns on it round the extensive paved compound surrounding the house.
The others kept cheering or jeering them on or off as they took turns in riding round the yellow house.
Then all of a sudden Dayo and Michael burst out into protest.
"Kunle, you're cheating.
You've done more than one round.
No! No! we'll not take that.
Morris! Take your toy away.
He's a cheat.
" "Come on, cry babies.
Come on and have a ride, since that's what you want.
" The noise of the feuding children attracted their parents from upstairs.
"Why can't you play without quarrelling?" Daddy asked.
"It's this Kunle who caused it," both Dayo and Michael declared.
"Well forget about it and go on playing," Mummy coaxed, patting both boys gently on the head.
"I've just been telling your dad to take you to the fun fair next Saturday.
" "Ah! Funfair, Mum? Did you say we're going to the funfair? Let's go at all costs, Mummy.
" They were all getting agog with excitement now.
"Yes indeed it's true.
We've been planning a family outing to the fair grounds.
But now I'm beginning to wonder whether this is the sort of behavior you should take along there.
" "We promise you, Dad, to behave ourselves," they pledged solemnly.
"Okay then, let's not hear any more noise like that again.
" The parents then went back indoors.
Soon, the children were riding joyously once more.
There was now much cheering and laughing.
Everything was done fairly.
On the Saturday fixed for the visit, Morris and his cousins were full of great anxiety and excitement to see the show.
They got ready long before their parents.
As they waited, they played and reminded each other of funfairs they had read about in stories.
When their parents were ready they all huddled in the back seat with sister, Miriam, and their cousin, Issa, a girl.
They soon arrived at the fair ground.
It was brightly lit with various splendid colors.
Sweet music flowed from all corners of the busy grounds.
But the smell of human bodies was overpowering.
Thousands of people were rushing in to see this yearly event.
Morris and the rest of their family waded through a thick crowd fighting to buy tickets.
Father had bought theirs in advance, so they didn't need to fight.
One of the guards recognized Daddy.
He made way for them to enter at once.
They heard shouts of protest.
"Advantage! we must stop this corruption in this country!" But they paid no heed.
They were now comfortably in.
First, they looked at the galaxy of attractions and activities.
Then Morris and his male cousins went forward to try the merry-go-round.
As he rode round with many others, he shouted in ecstasy.
The blood boiled within their veins at the flashing speed.
"Oh ooh! I'm dying!" The attendants, always on the alert, surged forward to the rescue.
Then opening his eyes and smiling calmly, Morris assured them, "It's nothing.
" "Kunle, look at me driving," he called as he held tight to the steering wheel as if summoning strength to urge it to greater speed.
"Ahahhahhahhaahahhh!" laughed the others.
bluffing, as if he's the one driving.
" "Look at Morris" "Don't you know?" Morris boasted with his arms held akimbo.
At that instant the machine ground to a halt.
Another set got on.
They rode for another fifteen minutes.
Morris's girl cousins had joined them.
They had a lot of interesting stories to tell.
Morris became eager to see the acrobatic display they had seen, so he appealed to his dad.
"Let's go and see it as well, Daddy.
I want to see it in reality.
I've only seen them on tele.
Besides, they look too good to be true.
" "It's getting dark.
Let's be going now.
" "If even for five minutes, Mum, it will be okay.
" Many amazing tricks thrilled them there.
Three men raced on a thin rubber cable.
A motorcycle sped round a vertical wall and through the ceiling with the rider's head facing the floor.
It was almost as fast as lightning.
"That's terrific, Dad.
How could anyone do such fantastic deeds? Wonderful!" "They're impossible for a normal person," stressed Kunle.
"Impossible! I bet you, I can do that at home.
" "Perhaps you want to die," the others retorted.
"Ah! None of that here! That's not the nicest thing to say to one's cousin, is it?" "Sorry, Aunty.
" "Leave them, Mum.
Let them wait.
They'll see something soon," Morris said determinedly.
But back home his trial with the unusual deeds only brought him back to reality.
He now contents himself again with ordinary human deeds.
He has resumed riding his tricycle on level ground, in the safety of their compound, often joined by his less favored friends in the area.
He hopes with time to start riding bicycles with them out into the streets.