At four months old he loved water so much he was always loathe to leave it. Wrapping him in a towel she hurried to the veranda to watch the arrival of Sunny Ah Wei’s travelling emporium. She hoped he’d have new bolts of winter fabrics and news of the outside world. Drawn by a horse in a harness lavishly decorated with brass, the red, green and gold wagon was a joy to behold. Emblazoned on the side under his name a golden scroll advertised the magical list of contents for sale – Chinese robes, silks, haberdashery, toys, confectionery, kitchenware and herbal medicines that claimed to cure ‘toothache, dyspepsia and all manner of human, canine and horses’ ills’. Barefoot children ran down the track to keep pace with the wagon. Sunny Ah Wei was dressed in his customary robe and cap, his thin pigtail swinging down his back, his face lit up with the celestial smile that had earned him his Australian nickname. Sunny’s reputation endeared him to all, not only because his exotic merchandise arrived like manna from heaven in isolated lives, but because of his cheap prices and fair dealings.
