Tuesday, November 30, 2004
The conditions were right yesterday, when I was riding my bike back from Mwanza. It was a beautiful, comfortable day, I was in no rush and not wearing a back pack for a change, the kids who always yell MZUNGUU MZUNGUU at me were bunched up and there were a lot of mamas there too.
So when they began their chant, I skidded my bike to a stop and laid it down in the middle of the road. Then I got off on the far side of the bike, swept the helmet off my head, took an exaggerated wide stance and hunched over, looking directly at them. That was already too much for about a third of the kids and they took off around the corner of the house. Then I put my hands in my pockets, and in my best John Wayne style slowly withdrew my extended index fingers, pointed them at the sky and then slowly leveled them at the kids and took aim. POW! POW! POWPOW! ... POW! Then I put the used index fingers in front of my face, blew away the smoke, slowly put them back in my pocket, put my helmet back on and rode off without cracking a smile.
The kids were dumbfounded. Just stood or sat there with their mouths open. The mamas were howling with laughter.
Gotta have some fun once in a while.
<<<>>>
Tomorrow I begin the trek to London. Long trip to a very different world - and Myrna. She has been writing how anxious and nervous she is. I'm not surprised, but I think it will be OK as soon as we are together. The trip back to Africa and Mwanza will be the interesting part.
So when they began their chant, I skidded my bike to a stop and laid it down in the middle of the road. Then I got off on the far side of the bike, swept the helmet off my head, took an exaggerated wide stance and hunched over, looking directly at them. That was already too much for about a third of the kids and they took off around the corner of the house. Then I put my hands in my pockets, and in my best John Wayne style slowly withdrew my extended index fingers, pointed them at the sky and then slowly leveled them at the kids and took aim. POW! POW! POWPOW! ... POW! Then I put the used index fingers in front of my face, blew away the smoke, slowly put them back in my pocket, put my helmet back on and rode off without cracking a smile.
The kids were dumbfounded. Just stood or sat there with their mouths open. The mamas were howling with laughter.
Gotta have some fun once in a while.
<<<
Tomorrow I begin the trek to London. Long trip to a very different world - and Myrna. She has been writing how anxious and nervous she is. I'm not surprised, but I think it will be OK as soon as we are together. The trip back to Africa and Mwanza will be the interesting part.
