Here I will beg the pardon of the normal kiwi birds which come out in the evening and find a resting place before the sun rises, I hope you will allow me to take writer’s license here too, as usually humans travel in the day light hours

As this might be a  long story I will write it in parts as long as people like reading it.

Early morning December 5th 2003, found Hettie Kiwi making last minute checks that  everything was in order and she had all she would need,passport etc. Her oldest fledgling arrived to make sure she was alright and checked the burrow for security leeks, then he left with a warning about strange birds and people and a key in case the alarm went off while Hettie was away. Hettie’s friend  Jenny came and they had a meal then set off to the airport since kiwi birds  don’t fly. On arrival Hettie went up to a desk where a very grumpy bird stamped his feet and tapped his beak in annoyance  Hettie had been told by the travel agent to book her large luggage through to New York,but because of the birds attitude she decided to let sleeping dogs lie so to speak. Taking her  wing luggage to skedaddle and run into the plane. This was a mistake and caused lots of problems for Hettie through out the first part of the trip.  The plane was small but Hettie had a window seat and was able to watch the land pass underneath the plane in  patchwork quilt of dazzling colours . Her beak was pressed against the window all the way to the large airport in the place they called Auckland.Hettie and the other passengers tumbled out and disembarked. No one was giving directions or explaining what Hettie should do, a fellow passenger told her where to find the baggage turntable and retrieve her bags .There is the bus to catch Now.

 Hettie found what she thought were her bags going round and round on a turntable, she picked them up and carried them to the bus, clambering on she started to settle, then looked down to see that one of the bags was not hers after all, “Oh oh she thought.  she would have to go to the luggage office at the international terminal and sort it  out there. Poor Hettie’s,kiwis feathers were almost standing on end in shock, she had no idea where to find the luggage office and nobody offered to help her,  A person waved vaguly to the back of the building. Looking like a small furry football Hettie reached the office, the woman behind the counter shrugging said , “I can’t do anything about that .” Hettie  longed  to find a quite dark  place to curl up and die . A  bus driver disengaged himself from a group of drivers and offered to take her back to the domestic terminal, gratefully accepting his offer, Hettie found her self back at the baggage department where  her bag was merrily going round and round all by itself. Because no one was around Hettie swapped the bags over,looking round she saw the kind bus driver waiting for her. “I can’t take you back to the International Terminal  so you have two options you can run to the other terminal or take a taxi for $20-00. Sighing Hettie took the taxi.

At the International Terminal Hettie joined all the others getting boarding passes. A warden came over and helped her with her baggage and paper work. Hettie was almost ready to board the big plane. Her feathers still at attention she scurried to the boarding area and handed over her ticket. Entering the large plane Hettie found  her seat on the aisle side and settled in beside two girls who were returning to America.

If you would like me to carry on  come see part 2;