Pirongia's Secret

Dedication

Dedication

For Stitch and Pickle and Pudding.

Three great boys who must have surely become great men.

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing now,

thank you for all the times you walked me home and made sure I survived the

gang warfare of the Manse estate unscathed.

Maybe there were safer routes home after all.

My father always said so.

You showed me how to stand up for myself.

You taught me how to roll a cigarette one handed, but never let me smoke.

You showed me that chivalry lived on.

You treated me like a princess, though nobody taught you how.

Go well, my friends.

I hope there’s still someone around to hold your jackets when you need to defend the meek.