MY FIRST DRIVING LESSON and other delightfully disturbing short stories

In this collection of twelve short stories for children aged eight and over, David draws on his imagination, an unusually rich and varied life, and his extended family’s practical jokes, narrow escapes, and tough life lessons.From Africa to Australia, his stories weave together adventure, tricky choices, fun and laughter, clever pranks that sometimes backfire, and magical rescues-all mixed with issues that tug at the heartstrings.Highlights include:Gangster Prankster - nine-year-old twins compete to outwit each other with the best practical jokes.My First Driving Lesson - what could go wrong when an overly enthusiastic father (the author’s own dad) tries to teach his four-year-old son to drive the family car, while walking alongside shouting confusing instructions?Kindness - a grieving nine-year-old boy in 1921 is rescued from despair by the compassion of his mother and teacher, opening up an artistic future.Trapped in Dol Dol - two African boys cornered by an angry buffalo are saved by Serayah, a Kenyan girl on her flying bubble-bed.Jeremy Jelly Wobble - an unusual man in an unusual family, who, with the help of his niece, finds a unique way through grief as she comes to terms with her own loss.Alarmed and Dangerous - based on a true story of hilarity that erupts when a budding electronic genius wires a house alarm to his mother’s car.A Narrow Escape - a ten-year-old boy flees two bullies and a deputy principal’s harsh punishment after carving his name into a school desk.Maisy - a loving grandmother stands with her surfing granddaughter as she faces online bullying, and, ironically, rescues the bully herself.10:23 am - the moment time stops in George’s classroom when he puts on his grandfather’s magic ring, giving him the chance to turn the tables on his tormentors.Panic on the Railway Line - two harrowing adventures from David’s childhood journey by steam train from Central Africa to South Africa at age ten.Chooks - true and funny tales from David’s lifetime of living with chickens.Winterwheat Biscuits - a crime-fighting rescue, set in Australia, with Serayah once again arriving on her magic bubble-bed to set things right.These yarns are perfect bedtime reading-for children and adults, 8 to 108.