The others laughed, but Lenny said, “Don’t worry, that happens to all of us the first time. You won’t do it again.”
I did do it again, 2 more times! It took a while for me to figure out how to get on and off something that’s moving. I have a few grazes along my ankle bones to remind me. I did my milk run with a girl called Katrina—she’s 16 and is really pretty. She showed me how to carry two full bottles in each hand.
There’s a lot more to learn than I thought. You have to rotate the crates on the truck in the right order so that it makes room for the empties as you go. There are different coloured tokens for milk and cream and sometimes people want to buy tokens, so if you don’t have any left in your pouch, you have to remember who it was and tell the driver so he can go back and sort it. The crates are heavy as anything, but I tried to make it look like it was easy for me. Katrina was telling me that when she started last year, milk was 4 cents a bottle, but in February it went up to 8 cents a bottle.
“Woah! That’s double the price,” I said.
“Yeah, people were pretty annoyed. Some even stopped us at the gate to complain about it,” said Katrina.
I hope the price of my boots doesn’ t double before I buy them. I had to do a LOT of running with the milk trolley and it was really hard on some of the hills. I made sure I smiled and talked to the others though, so they wouldn’t think I was finding it hard.
I was glad when we finished and got to go home, I was so hungry I had 2 extra bits of bread after tea. Now I see why Lenny is always so hungry after work. It was fun, but it was hard work too. I’m working every day this week. Yay! $$$$$$$$$
MONDAY, 26 July
* * *
When I stepped out of bed this morning every muscle in my legs, bum, and arms hurt. All I seemed to say was, “Ow ow ouch ow.” Mum said maybe the milk run was a bit too much for me. Luckily, Lenny jumped in and said everyone gets stiff and sore when they start out. He said it would wear off in a day or two. I stopped saying ouch after that, even though it hurt like crazy every time I moved. I had to bike to school today too, so I would be home in time for the milk run. I think that helped loosen my muscles by the time I got to school.
Once I got there, I talked to Charlotte about Tigi and the crew. She said they left on Saturday afternoon and her mum had gone back with them. Reckons she’s okay with it because her mum is coming back for Christmas. But that’ s ages away! I don’t know how she copes with that. She told me that Lenny had been at their place, hanging out with Rawiri and Tigi. I knew it! She reckons they are thinking about becoming Polynesian Panthers. Geeeezzzz!
Day 2 of the milk run was better. I got on the moving truck first time every time. Katrina showed me how to pick up 4 empties all at once. She’s really good at moving full and empty bottles quickly, and I tried really hard to keep up with her. She told me to keep the full crates of milk at the back of my trolley and the empties at the front, but I forgot and found out why you do that. If there is too much weight at the front the trolley can topple over, which is what happened to me when I hit a curb. The crates sort of slipped off but luckily the bottles stayed in them and none got broken, thank goodness.
I’d never thought about how much was involved with a milk run before. I’m learning loads of new things. I get a free bottle of milk a day as well now, so Mum made us all hot milk Milos after tea. It was yummy, the only thing I hated was the skin on the top of it.
SATURDAY, 31 July
* * *
Mum let me sleep in, and I didn’t wake up till 11:30. She said she knew I was tired when I’d fallen asleep watching, Donny & Marie. I remember them singing “Puppy Love” and next thing I knew, Dad was waking me up and telling me to go to bed.
There are 2 bits of good news from today. First, I’m keeping my milk run. Hip-hip-hooray! Lenny said our driver told Mr. Walker (the owner of the milk run) that I was a great worker, that I’ d picked things up quickly, and I was strong for such a young girl. And although you’d think that’s the best news of the day, then I found out I’m getting paid for all the work I’ve done already!
I didn’ t know people got paid when they were on a trial. I’m so happy right now. Lenny said I’ll get paid on Tuesday. I don’t know how much I’ll get. I’ m gonna get a jar and put it in my undies drawer and keep all of my money in it. I asked Mum how much people usually get paid. She said the minimum wage is $1.95 an hour but I won’t get paid that much because I’m a kid. I don’t really care how much it is, I’m just excited to be earning money. I guess the Māori designs I put on my rakau have brought me good fortune. I didn’t know designs could be so powerful. I’ll have to tell Mr. Parker about that when I see him.
I’ve got a day off my milk run tomorrow. I don’t feel like I need a day off, but we all get one day off a week. I think I’m getting used to pushing the trolley up and down the hills as it seemed a bit easier today.
I’m on ironing duty at home now that I have a milk run, coz I’ m not there at teatime to help with the dishes anymore.
I bet I dream of jars full of money tonight!
SUNDAY, 1 August
* * *
Did the ironing today, and it took ages! I hate ironing shirts, I should have kept the tea towels and hankies till last coz they’re easiest to do. Next time I’ll do that. Mum said I should iron while I’m watching the Disney movie coz work seems to go quicker when you’re watching TV, so next time I’ll do that as well.
MONDAY, 2 August
* * *
On the back of the milk truck, as we were heading home today, I asked Lenny if he’d been hanging out with Rawiri. He said he had, which I already knew from Charlotte. He said they talked a lot about Tigi and how the Polynesian Panthers have been protesting the dawn raids.
About a month ago (just near my birthday) the Panthers were called to their headquarters in Auckland. Flippin’ heck! They have headquarters? It’s like a real-life Get Smart series. I wonder if there’s a secret door to get in?
The Panthers were told there was going to be a demo (that’s a protest, I think) and they had a mission. Apparently, some of their supporters are university students and they came up with an idea to do a dawn raid on some politicians! Each group was given the address of a politician, a megaphone, and spotlights. Then, at 3 o’clock in the morning, each carload went to a different politician’s house. Tigi was in a car with some pālagi (white people) from other groups who are also fighting injustice. Tigi told Lenny and Rawiri they knew it was illegal, but they also knew it was the right thing to do. He said they were organised and well prepared and were glad to have people from other groups supporting them, and lucky to have university students coming up with fresh ways to protest. Maybe Dad was right about a university education being important.
Tigi’s group got the house of a politician called Bill Birch. When they pulled up, it was cold and foggy and everything was quiet. (It sounded like a great setting for a scary story.) They shone the spotlights on the house and called over the megaphone, “Bill Birch—come out and show us your passport,” and other stuff like that. When the lights went on in the house, everyone jumped back in the car and sped away so they wouldn’ t get caught. Tigi said he knew it had worked when he heard one of the politicians interviewed on the radio next day, saying, “How dare these people come to our houses at such an ungodly hour!”
Excuse me! How do they think Pacific Islanders feel when the government does that to them? Exactly. The whole point was to show them how it felt—and now they know. He said that’s when the Panthers knew they had succeeded, but Tigi said it didn’t have as much effect as they’d hoped, because of bias in the media.
I don’t really get that. I thought the media just reported the news, but Lenny told me that the media can influence public opinion by choosing what they report and how, and that’s why loads of people don’t actually know how bad things are for the Islanders. That made me mad because it seems really unfair. Sounds like another civil rights problem to me. I can’t belie
ve how brave Tigi and the other Panthers are. Lenny said if he was there he would have done it too. I would’ve been really worried if Lenny was with them.
TUESDAY, 3 August
* * *
PAY DAY—WOWEEEEE! I got paid $8.40. I can’t believe it! I’m so rich! It will only take me 2 weeks to buy my boots. I get 70 cents an hour, and I do 2 hours a day for 6 days a week. My pay came in a small brown envelope with my name on it. Since this is my very first pay packet ever, I kept the envelope. I was thinking of buying some jeans but I can’t decide if I want Levi’s or Wranglers. I also saw these FAB bib overalls in prewashed denim—they’re the coolest!
I got a coffee jar and put all my money in it, then got it out and laid it out on my bed 4 times. Lily told me to stop playing with it or I’ll wear it out.
I want to spend a bit … I think I’ll buy some Milkybars and Big Charlie bubblegum tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY, 4 August
* * *
The cultural food day at school will be on the 20th of August, the last day of the term. Mr. Parker is going to put down a hāngi as part of it. They need family members to help—men to help put the hāngi down and ladies to help peel veges and serve the food. I asked Mum and Dad if they could come. They’re thinking about it. I still have to decide what to make for it. Not cornbeef stew, that’s for sure. I don’t want to start another fight, although I think me and Charlotte are all good now.
After the milk run I biked to the shop and got some treats. I got a Nut Roll each for Mum and Dad, Milkybars for all us kids, and some Big Charlies just for me, which I put in my jersey drawer so my little brothers won’t find them. Everyone was pleased with my treats, and I felt good doing something nice for the family with my own money. I spent $1.30. Archie was at our place, so I gave him my Milkybar and I had a Big Charlie.
Dad said it was good to be generous to others. Mum said I should think about setting some goals and saving some of my money. She said I should have some small goals, like the boots, and some bigger goals, like they did when they bought our colour TV. Maybe my big goal will be a pair of boots in every colour. I’m going to ask Mum and Dad if I can shout dinner for the family. I remember Lenny doing that when he first got his milk run.
THURSDAY, 5 August
* * *
Mum and Dad said I can shout tea tomorrow night. It’s Thursday so there’s late-night shopping, and after my milk run, Mum will take me to Porirua shopping centre. I’m going to shout us hot chicken with bread and butter to make chicken sandwiches. YUM!
FRIDAY, 6 August
* * *
Hot chooks are the best. I brought 2 of them so there was plenty for everyone. It cost $2.50 per chicken, 32c for the butter, 16c per loaf of bread (I got 2), so altogether it cost $5.64. So far, I have spent $6.94 of my pay and have $1.46 left, so I’ll put that aside for my boots. It might take a few weeks to save for them. When I went to pay for the food, the checkout girl said, “Hey, I love your purse,” meaning my coffee jar. I felt a bit embarrassed, so actually I think I’ll buy a purse next.
Ethan’ s a blimmin’ pest! He wrote this. The little scuzz bucket better hope I don’t tell on him or he’ll be in so much trouble. I shouldn’t have left my diary lying around. He better not be reading it—or else!!!!!!! You got that, Ethan Savea??
SATURDAY, 7 August
* * *
Uh-oh. Ethan nearly got Mum and Dad in trouble. There was a knock on the door this morning and it was the TV licence people. They check all the houses because it’ s hard to know if people have a TV because sometimes they don’t have an outside aerial, they just have rabbit ears. Anyway, the lady was asking Mum questions about our TV and Mum knew we only had a licence for a black and white set because the colour licence costs too much. When the lady asked if our TV was black and white or colour, Mum said black and white. Ethan was listening and piped up with, “Hey, Mum, does the colour TV in the lounge not count?”
I think the TV lady knew what was going on but she never said anything, she just gave Mum a pamphlet with the licencing rules and left. Ethan got a big telling-off for butting into adult conversations, but at least he didn’t cry this time.
MONDAY, 9 August
* * *
We found out today that the speech competition is on Saturday the 13 of November. No set topic, it’s free choice. First prize for my age group is $25 plus a $10 book token. Wow, that’s a massive prize! I’m going to try really hard with my speech. At lunchtime, Mr. Carter worked with those of us who are entered in the competition. I’m representing our school in the 13 to 14 age group. Lucky I’ve had my birthday, coz I just made it into that group. Actually, maybe it’s not lucky. If I was in the 11 to 12 group, I might have a better chance.
Mr. Carter gave us some tips for preparing our speeches. He said to think of something that will be interesting to people of all ages. Maybe I should ask Alice if I can use her “Man on the Moon” topic, I’m sure everyone would find that interesting. Mr. Carter also said we should know our topic VERY well and that we should have a strong interest in it ourselves. Hmmm, maybe the “Man on the Moon” isn’t for me after all. My last speech was about myself, so I knew that topic well, but I don’t think it would be interesting to people who don’t know me. I reckon I could do fun facts about Donny and Marie Osmond—everyone would be into that. I’ll have to think about this a bit more. Mr. Carter is going to keep checking on us to see how we’re doing. I know it’s a few months away yet, but I’m already starting to feel worried.
TUESDAY, 10 August
* * *
Yippeee, PAYDAY again! Another $8.40, so now I have $9.86 in my coffee jar. I’m not going to spend anything this week. I was talking to Katrina while we were standing on the back of the milk truck. She told me she spent all her first month’s pay, then her mum made her start saving some each week, and now she has over $100 in her bank. Flippin’ heck!!!!!! She said now that she’ s saved so much, she wants to keep going so she can buy a car when she gets her licence. Katrina’s been doing the milk run for almost a year now. If I start saving like her, I’ll be able to buy whatever I want. It’s so exciting having a job and some money.
I asked Katrina if she’s Samoan, coz she’s brown too. She said she’s Rarotongan but lots of people think she’s either Samoan or Māori. I asked if Rarotonga is the same as Tonga but she said they’re different places in the Pacific Islands. I asked her if she knew about the dawn raids on Pacific Islanders. She didn’ t, and I don’t think she was interested—she started talking about some flared jeans she was thinking of buying from James Smith’s. She said her mum helps her put things like clothes on lay-by, and then she pays them off over a couple of months. When you’ve finished paying it off, you get the clothes or whatever that you put on lay-by. I didn’t know about lay-bys, but Katrina said it’ s a great way to make sure you don’t miss out on stuff you really, really want in case it’s sold out by the time you’ve saved up the money. This is the best news ever.
After I ate my tea, I asked Mum if she would help me lay-by my boots. She said it would be better to just save the money and I said, “But what if I miss out on them?” She’s thinking about it.
WEDNESDAY, 11 August
* * *
It was Mr. Parker day again today. He told us we need to know who is available for the hāngi next week. Whoops, I’d forgotten to check with Mum and Dad, so I asked them tonight. They’d forgotten too. Mum said she’ll be fine coz it’s during the day, but Dad will need to see if he can get the day off. Mr. Parker had written the details on the blackboard and we copied them.
Thursday 19th
3:00–5:00 p.m.
Ladies—vegetable preparation, make stuffing
Men—dig hāngi pit, collect rocks and baskets (we need someone with a trailer)
Friday 20th
5:00 a.m. Men light the fire, and put the hāngi down around 6:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. Ladies prepare tables
12:00 p.m. Men lift the hāngi
&
nbsp; 12:30 p.m. Ladies serve the hāngi
Colin said his dad has a trailer we can use. Mr. Morrison is going to ring him. Mr. Parker said we could do the songs we’ve been learning to thank our parents for their help. He said we can also do the rakau routines to entertain everyone while they’re eating. FUN!!!
We practised our songs, and everyone seemed to sing better today.
THURSDAY, 12 August
* * *
Yay, Dad can help out with the hāngi. He took an annual leave day, which is a big deal coz he’s taking 2 weeks’ leave when we go to Auckland to see Grandma and Grandpa. Dad’s keen to learn how to put down a hāngi. He told us he knows how to do an umu (the Samoan version) but he’s never done one for us. He said an umu is cooked on top of the ground whereas a hāngi is cooked in the ground. Ewww, I hope we don’t get any dirt in our food! Dad said hāngi food is beautiful. I can’t wait, and I’m looking forward to showing off the songs and the rakau routines we’ve been doing.
FRIDAY, 13 August
* * *
Everyone reckons Friday the 13th is bad luck. I thought it was rubbish until I slipped while I was getting on the milk truck tonight. I was still holding the handrail, so I got dragged along the road a bit until Lenny yelled at Richard (the driver) to stop. I ripped my pants and grazed my leg really badly. Richard took me home to get it cleaned up and said I should stay there, which Mum and Dad agreed with. I didn’t want to, but Mum said I’ve been working hard and needed a rest. Richard said I should have Saturday off as well. I am so annoyed. That’s 2 days of pay I’m going to miss out on—$2.80 less in my pay next week.
Dawn Raid Page 5
