When I was a teenager I loved to go to the movies and watch Clint Eastwood. He seemed to be the perfect actor for all of his roles; rough, tough and mean. Clint Eastwood made it big with movies like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Every Which Way but Loose and so on. Clint Eastwood's acting career was going in the right direction to becoming a star. There have been so many actors playing the cowboy role, the tall cowboy from Texas with spurs on. But no one did it better than Clint. Clint Eastwood also got into politics in his later years and seemed to have a big influence on the American people. I guess becoming a famous actor and a wealthy one at that, people tend to look up to you.

Jeremy

My birthday was coming up and my family keeps on asking me what I would like for my present. I said,

'I do not know at this point, but I will have a look around and see what I would like and I will let you know, ok?'

Me and my friends thought that we will go into town on Saturday for the day. Mum said,

'That's ok. Maybe you can have a look at something me and your father could buy you for your birthday.'

'Ok, Mum.'

So me and my friends headed off to town for the day. We had a lot of fun and they made me walk passed a shoe shop that had a pair of spurs that caught my eye and it came to me that's what I want for my birthday. I cannot wait to I get home to tell Mum and Dad that I have seen my birthday present. A lovely pair of spurs in the shoe shop window.

'That's ok dear but guess what? We have a surprise for you. Dad's best friend is coming to your birthday party and you won't guess who it is. He is coming all the way from Texas.'

'Who is it, Mum?'

'Don't ask me, ask your father.'

'Well, Dad, who is it?'

'You all have to wait. It is a surprise.'

'Dad, who is it?'

'It is Clint Eastwood!'

'No way!'

'Yes way, so when he rings you can give him directions to get here.'

'Ok, Dad.'

'Thanks, Dad. This is going to be the best birthday ever!'

Stuart

I was going to a spurs sale for a set of spurs. On my way I got lost. I had to ask for directions. He told me to go to Texas and follow the dusty road until you come to Clint Eastwood Street where there is a big billboard, 'Sale is here'

Greg

The blazing sun beat down on my sun-stroked head. A slight breeze did little to cool me down as I walked wearily down a dusty gravel road. My vehicle broke down fifteen or twenty kilometres ago. No big deal, just a lack of water in the radiator. Funny that, I thought I had filled a spare bottle of water, but I guess not. It wasn't in the boot when I looked. Petrol, sleeping bag, change of clothes, four litres of oil, hell I even checked to see if the spare wheel was inflated. Shit, maybe the water bottle rolled under the spare wheel when I checked that. I almost changed direction there and then.

The landscape is dry and barren. I expected to see tumble weeds roll on by and for some reason I start singing Deep in the Heart of Texas, loud and very badly.

I imagine I'm Clint Eastwood, guns slung low on my hips and my boots adorned with spurs, jingling and jangling with each step. I think I'm loosing my sanity and the mirage isn't helping. 'What am I doing here?' I question myself, only to hear muttering like... 'The question you have to ask yourself is, are you feeling lucky,,,well do you punk?'

I've become conscious again, only to find I've stopped walking and that I'm staring dumbly down at an empty plastic bottle. Slowly I look at my hands to find them empty. I have dropped the container but on some animal instinct I've become aware of the fact.

That damn mirage is still there, a shimmering haze-like cascading water and now I think I hear a tick, tick sound. Suddenly I know what it is and I start to run towards the irrigator. I stumble and fall over into a muddy puddle, and that is where the farmer finds me weeping.

Greg

Before the nuns and a priest came to Nukunonu, me and my older sister could read and write our first names. Dad was my first teacher and my first Tokelauan School Principal.

He was also my inspiration and my rock.

Dad was a loving, caring father but very strict. He taught me and my older sister how to behave, respect the older people and to show our good manners.

He even taught us how to fight, how to defend ourselves and how to stick up for each other. He taught us how to live in the world.

As we got older things changed. I chose my own friends and so did my sister. But Dad's justice always prevailed.

Here are the rules Dad wanted us to follow:]

• Do not miss the morning mass
• Do not miss the evening prayer at church everyday.
• Be home by 6pm for the family rosary.
• Finish your jobs before the rosary.
• Make sure you do your homework.
• Make sure you help your mother.
• No answering back or arguing with your mother.

There was a heavy punishment for breaking those rules. Dad used a stick or a 'paddler' or a thick rope to kung fu us, especially me. My other siblings listened well so they hardly had any kung fu by Dad.

But me! I acted like 'The Terminator'. And the more I got kung fu from Dad the more ideas I learned. For example - I learned a few moves and how to karate!

The last time he used the canoe's paddlers to flipflop me he was shocked because I used what I had learned to defend myself. I even did a bit of kick boxing with my left leg.

Suddenly Dad dropped the paddler and stared at me.

Then he said 'Meli, I never want to do that to you because you are only a girl.'

He didn't use the paddler much after that.

Dad was proud of me and my sister because we were doing well at school. He used to help us with our homework, except the English. Dad didn't know much English. He told me he wanted to be a radio operator.

As I mentioned before, Dad was my first teacher. He even told me about the birds and the bees. (My mother told me a different story!).

Even now Dad's teaching is useful to me. But I don't use his justice with my own children because I was born in a different side of this world.

In the end my Dad was a loving human being. He was my first teacher and I am proud to be his daughter.