It has stopped raining for about fifteen minutes now and it is beautiful in a hilltop neighbourhood in Upper Hut, New Zealand, USAA. Our view is a blue mountain range in the distance hued by grey sky. The clouds are receding into the distance.
We hear footsteps as our view moves to the sidewalk and the wind blows a polaroid postcard with a blonde woman posing beside a sentry at Buckingham Palace on it. A hand reaches out for it and picks it up. A mailman is the figure in shorts and NZ Post blue polo. He looks at it and turns the postcard over to read it. As he reads, he chuckles. Still laughing, the mailman gets to the door, and Clarksonâs father, Harry Black opens it. Startled, the mailman stops chuckling and straightens up. He puts the postcard down, and then realises, looks at the postcard, then hands it over to Harry. âYour mailâ, he says in a Kiwi accent. Harry looks at him with a cheeky annoyance, and then says to him, âYou know⊠you shouldnât be reading my mailâ. Then Young Clarkson comes to the door with a tee-shirt that reads âHAIRY WHALESâ on it, and a corresponding graphic to go with it and looks at the mailman. âNice tee-shirt there, son. Well, I didnât mean to read your postcard, mate. It just dropped and I picked it up and noticed it. Well, Iâm off. Kia oraâ. âKia oraâ, Harry responds. Young Clarkson does too and waves the mailman goodbye. Then as the mailman walks off, Young Clarkson walks out to the front steps and looks up to the sky. âDad, itâs stopped raining. Letâs go!â, as Young Clarkson pulls his fatherâs hand and then drags him out to the driveway. âOkay, okay. Iâm comingâ, Harry responds as he is pulled along. Harry looks at the postcard and smiles. Then look to his son, then bends down to pull Young Clarkson up into the air. Young Clarkson starts laughing and says, âOn your shoulders! On your shoulders!â Harry then rotates Young Clarkson in the air and places him on his shoulders. They walk up the hill towards the park. Then, Harry says, âYour mother sent another oneâ, as he passes the postcard to his son. Young Clarkson takes it and looks at it. He laughs, âMum, always doing those goofy poses when she sends one!â âYes, sheâs quite cheeky like thatâ, Harry responds. âItâs one of those army menâ. âYeah, the sentry of the British Guards. Me and mum took you there when you were two, just a wee boyâ. âRead it dadâ. Harry looks up, then takes the postcard from his son. He looks at it again. âYeah, she always does that, doesnât she? Just like youâ. Harry turns over the postcard, âHmm⊠What did she write?... âIâve travelled in time to the future and now Iâm trapped. Clarkson, come find me! Love mom.â âSheâs a silly winkleâ, Young Clarkson responds. âP.S. Tell your dad to stop calling me during conferences or else Iâll get fired and fly straight home to hug and kiss my little kangaroo⊠Sheâs not going to get fired, the Prime Minister handpicked her herselfâ, he shakes his head. P.S.S. Here is a photo of me at Buckingham Palace with the British Guard. Heâs actually just as still like this even in personâ, Young Clarkson chuckles. P.S.S.S. Iâll be coming home early, Professor Beckon is heading to Toronto with the delegation of Prime Minister Ardernâ. âWhy are there so many P.S.es when she writes to me?â. âYeah she does that quite a lot⊠P.S.S.S.S. Which souvenir would you like me to get you while Iâm in London? A fluffy Queen's Guard? Love again, Momâ. âI want a kangaroo!â, as Young Clarkson punches the air in excitement. âOkay, Iâll tell her tonightâ, Harry responds.Â
As they get to the park, Harry brings his son down in front of him. Young Clarkson runs to the playground and climbs the jungle gym. Harry walks to the swing and turns to look at his son, âHey, careful thereâ. He sits on the swing and then digs his wifeâs postcard into his shirt pocket. He then looks around as if to see if someone is looking at him, then takes it back out and kisses it. Then with a satisfied smile, he puts it back into his pocket. There are sounds of children playing to the side of him. Then Young Clarkson runs into his laps. Harry embraces his son. Then Young Clarkson slips out to the swing beside Harry. They both sit there as they softly swing. âDad, when is mum coming back?â âWell, she was supposed to be back in a week, but I guess weâll be seeing her much soonerâ. âThen she can come with you to my rugby practises before we start our games!â âShe sure can, sonâ, Harry replies. âYes!â, as Young Clarkson raises his fist into the air. âI donât think she would miss any of it given sheâs been away from you for two weeksâ. Then, Young Clarkson sees a coin on the ground in front and jumps off. âI found a coin!... and⊠a four-leaf clover. This is my luckiest day! YEAH!â Young Clarkson goes toward Harry to show what he has found. âIt is your luckiest day⊠a Canadian toonie AND a four-leaf clover? You know what they say when you find a four-leaf cloverâŠâ âWhat, dad?â âYouâll be luckyâŠâ, Harry chuckles. âReally?â âYeah, of course, make a prayer while youâre still luckyâ. âI pray you take me to the playground everydayâ, he prays aloud. âYou donât have to pray for that, son. But, I promise youâ. âYES! Iâm the luckiest person in the world!â âYes, you are. But we should get going soonâ, Harry says. Young Clarkson is still marveling at what he has found. âSon, we should goâ. Young Clarkson looks up to see a rainbow in the sky. âDad, look. Itâs a rainbow. Itâs beautifulâ. âYeah, it is.â âYou know what they say about rainbowsâŠâ âWhat?â âIf you get to the end of it youâll find a pot of goldâ. âIâm going to be rich!â, as he raises his four-leaf clover into the air. âNot if I get there first!â Harry laughs as he tries to catch up to his son. âNo way, the pot of gold is mine!â âOkay, itâs a raceâ, Harry smiles as he jogs along. As Young Clarkson is ahead of him, he quickens his pace, âIâll tell you what. Iâll meet you there and we can split the gold.â âEven if you win? You promise?â. âItâs a promiseâ. As Young Clarkson approaches the school building, a person appears from the corner. It is his mother, Beth. Harry comes to a stop as he sees her. Young Clarkson sees her too. âMum!â, as he runs towards her. She spreads her arms and crouches. Young Clarkson runs into her embrace and they hug. âHey, there my little kangaroo! I missed you.â She smiles at Young Clarkson then towards Harry. She then reaches into her bag and takes out a fluffy British Guard. âLook, what I got youâ, she says to Young Clarkson. âAww! I wanted a kangaroo!â. Young Clarkson throws it down to the ground. Then Beth grabs it and slaps Young Clarksonâs hand, âDonât you ever do that again!â, as she picks him up and walks towards Harry. Beth, with her son in her arm, comes into Harryâs embrace.