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                                       In With Both Feet Chapter One  

With the other ten-year-olds I sat barefooted and cross-leggedon the grass at a Takapuna Primary School assembly whereprizes were being awarded for sports and academic achievement. Irecall being only mildly interested as individual pupils, on hearing theirnames called, stepped up to receive certificates and occasionally smalltrophies from Mr Preston, the headmaster.Suddenly the boy seated next to me jabbed my ribs. Angrily Iswung round, but he was pointing towards the front.‘They just called your name!’‘My name?’‘Yeah!’I glanced up to see the headmaster looking in my direction. Iimmediately clambered to my feet, and he beckoned me forward.‘John Reynolds,’ he said. ‘A prize for the best Standard Four essay.’I was both bemused and pleased. The previous Friday night mydad had taken me to an auction, a weekly event in central Takapuna.Intrigued by the antics of the auctioneer and the way in which theparticipants shouted their bids, I used the experience as the basis formy class essay – a fictional story about what happened to a boy whowent to an auction.The essay is long gone but winning the prize for writing stayedin my mind. This affirmation stayed with me during my chequeredprogress through the school system and into adulthood.Without a doubt, that day began my writer’s journey, which hascontinued ever since.

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