Sam and I

A story about a lovely niece..

Gyan Fernando
2012

Sam and I
A series of short stories of the nice kind About a lovely niece. Largely a work of fiction.

By

Gyan C. A. Fernando

Copyright: Gyan C. A. Fernando 2012

Sam and I
By Gyan Fernando Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Preface Prelude Sam and I Wimbledon Wimbledon Wobblies

Sam and I
Preface

It takes two to tango! is a common idiomatic expression which suggests something in which more than one person or other entity are paired in an inextricably-related and active manner, occasionally with negative connotations.

In writing this preface a word or two of explanation are in order.

This is a rather poignant but humorous and nice series of stories of the love and
friendship between an Uncle and a grown-up, lovable but naughty niece. Some or most of it is based on real life experiences on my part. There were Great Moments, there were deeply depressing moments and there were those rare Wild, Wild Moments that will remain with me forever. It is rather difficult to write about real-life events and convert them to fiction, than most people imagine. It is much more difficult when the events involved were of a rather emotional nature and caused a certain amount of pain as well as disruption of lives, including ones own. The demarcating lines of human behaviour being drawn in sand it is difficult for one to realise when one steps over the line. Lines of human behaviour have been, are being and will continue to be drawn on shifting sands. I suppose that Vladimir Nabokov did find it rather difficult to write Lolita. He did use a clever device though: He used pathos, a very clever style of writing and made use of an apparently fragmented memory. I have resorted to humour. Humour is a funny thing. It makes you forget the pain! Various authors much cleverer than I am have used various devices to write autobiographical novels. I prefer just to use humour and fond memories. If you expected a story of high emotions and pathos, this is neither! This book is meant to be fun and bordering on a slapstick style. Astute readers will however be able to read between the lines. I do hope you enjoy it! Gyan Fernando 2012

Sam and I

Prelude

suppose looking at a newly born, just out of the womb and now making gurgling

noises of the reassuring type would move anybody. In my case I was looking at my newly born niece Sam. At that time many years ago, I happened to be working as a junior doctor in the hospital where she was born and was probably the first member of the family to see her and hold her. She was in a wicker Moses basket and totally naked. In retrospect, I think that the warning signs were already there. I could, to this day, swear that she winked at me and with a lop-sided smile. According to her birth records she weighed a mere 5lbs and 10oz and she was born at mid-day or High Noon! I gently picked the little blob up and kissed her on her right cheek. She smiled! The paths of Uncle and Niece were to cross many times in the years that followed. The following accounts are just snapshots of our lives when they crossed each other. Read on!