United Media Incorporated's Children Education Series. The Children of Bethel Street

Winnie and Ala  planned to go swimming. They had come back from school; had their lunch; done all their chores15  in a hurry and now they were ready.

It was a bright Wednesday afternoon. The weather16  was very hot and Winnie’s parents had gone to visit a side an aunt in Muea.

“Do you have the tube?”17  Winnie asked

“Yes, I’ll get it,” said.

Ala went to the backyard. He returned some moments later with the tube pulled out of his father’s spare tire.

He was grinning as he sat on the veranda, unplugged the valve of the tube and then inserted the valve18  into his mouth. He blew air into the tube until it was well rounded.
Then he joined Winnie in the yard. 

Ala, who always said of himself that he was the “only son of Mr. and Mrs. Ndenge,” was fair in complexion. He had a round face, dark hair and long eyelashes. The pupils of his eyes were almost brown.

The twinkle of mischief19  was always present in Ala’s eyes.