1997 · not illustrated yet
The Farm Gate Ride
Illustration in the queue. New spreads are drawn every week — join the list and you’ll see this one the day it’s inked.
“A five-bar gate swings a long way when three of you are on the end of it.”
A five-bar gate is a ready-made swing, and with three kids on the end, the momentum is magnificent. We swing out further and further, a glorious arc of denim and squealing laughter. We just forget one small detail: every swing has to come to a stop.
“We learned what happens... when it hits the post.”
From the back cover
Some kids have swings in their garden. The kids of Bramblewick have a farmer's five-bar gate, which is much better.
Three of them pile on, kicking off for the ride of their lives. Higher and higher they go, a perfect pendulum of mischief. They just haven't quite worked out what happens when an unstoppable force meets a very immoveable gatepost. Good job Mum and Dad are having a cup of tea.