BRIAN BORU

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 176, 15 October 1927, Page 31 (Supplement)

BRIAN BORU

Brian Boru was looking out of the window. "Stop sucking your thumb. ' said old Nanny Boru, “and come and eat your supper.” • I don’t want any supper.” he replied, in his most superior tope of voice. He was very young; a dear, soft, cuddly little brown bear with great brown eyes and wee brown ears, which lie practised pricking up at the correct angle for two hours every day. Old Nanny Boru laughed. My little darling,” she coaxed. • I am not vour little darling, nor anybody else's little darling.” he snapped. And he peered straight up the road and thought glumly that anything in the world would be better than having to live with old Nanny. Straightaway he determined to leave. He would go in the middle of that very night. Then they would be dreadfully sorry that they had treated him so badly. “Brian Boru. I shan't speak to you again. I shall spank you if you don't come at once.” “I am sick of being bullied,” he sighed, as he slipped oft his stool. “If you’re not grumbling at me for sticking my hands in my pockets Its for scuffling or for putting out my tongue or scratching myself. Can t a fellow ever do what he likes?” "Don’t answer back.” she said. “There you go again.” he hooted. Brian Boru lay still in bed until he heard the bedroom door close behind his father and mother. Then he counted five hundred very slowly, after which he judged that it was safe to slip up. He put on his best suit and took his money-box off the mantelpiece. There was tenpence three-farthings in it. Daddy Boru was already snoring as Brian passed his door and old Nanny was making the funny little noise she always made in her Asleep. Up the road he trundled. Old Nanny always forbade him to walk on the kerb, quite the nicest part of the pathway, in case he tipped into a puddle, but to-night he was free and he hobbled along the rough stones whistling through the hole in his front teeth. On and on he went until at last his eyes began to get winky and his feet dragged after him. * Suddenly a voice said: “Where are you off to. young man?” Brian Boru tried hard to prick up his ears. “I beg your pardon,” he said, stepping to one side. A large tramp looked at him suspiciously. “Left home?” he asked. Brian decided to confied in him. “I have,” he agreed, with a sigh of deep satisfaction. “All this bullying gets me down. I can’t suck my thumb nor yawn when I am tired.” The tramp roared with laughter. “That’s miserable luck.” he agreed. “Have you got anywhere to go?” “As a matter of fact. 1 haven't.’’ Brian confessed. “But.” he added, brightly. “I’ve got tenpence three-far-things as soon as I can get the lid off my money-box.” “That won’t take you far. You'd better go back home to your old Nanny Boru and suck your finger when she isn’t looking.” “But that’s just it,” wailed Brian: “she always is looking.” The tramp took Brian by the arm. “Look here,” he said, gravely, T left a home just like you and I haven't had a good bed since.” “Where do you sleep then?” “In a ditch. It’s perfectly beastly when it’s been raining.” “Good gracious me,” said Brian Boru, “I should simply hate that.” He thought furiously for some minutes, then he said: “I say, do you think it’s too late for me to get back to-night?” “Which way do you want to go?" asked the tramp. “The way I’ve come.” “I’ll carry you then.” He picked Brian up in his arms and they set off down the lane. Just when the dawn was breaking he tweaked the little bear’s ear and put him down at his gate. “I will give you my money-bax, that is. If you think you’ll be able to get the lid off,” said Bran gallantly. “Well . . said the tramp. Brian gave it to him and slipped indoors Father Boru was still snoring and dd Nanny was making the funny little noises she always made when she was -isieep. He crept into his own room, took off his clothes, and in a minuifc was between the cool sheets, twiddling his toes with satisfaction. “I shall always feel,” he said, as he closed his tired brown eyes, “that I have made a stand. Next time old Nanny goes for me I shall know that I haven't always given in to her. Why do grown-ups bully little brown bears?” he asked himself sleepily, but he never found an answer because his eyes were tightly shut.