1970 - Bangkok Thailand
In 1966 my Dad was stationed in Bangkok Thailand by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and we moved there in October of that year. I went into the first grade at International School Bangkok, Bankapi Campus. David was put into kindergarten around the corner from where we lived. This story takes place several years after we moved to Bangkok. By that time, we were living in an apartment complex called Sawan Court. Sawan Court consisted of three buildings at the time facing a swimming pool. There was parking under two of the buildings; the one where we lived, and the one opposite. Those two buildings had large three bedroom apartments. The third building, which faced out to the front fence, had three stories of studio apartments. About the third year we were living there, 1970, the owner decided to increase his wealth by filling in the swamp behind our building and putting up another five story set of apartments. Filling in the swamp required many, many trips by large dump trucks full of sand. They lined up down the street to take their turn at dumping their loads and creating a new property on which to build.
As kids, we were nothing, if not innovating in finding new ways to have an adventure. At this time I was about 10, David would have been 9, Val was 7 and Darryl 6. I don't remember anymore whose idea it was, but we decided to jump onto the back of the dump trucks as they waited in line, hold on to upper back ledge as they dumped the sand into the swampy mess. Unlike in the US, there were no great OSHA laws in Thailand preventing people from doing stupid things, and even if there were, no low level Thai worker would ever stop a stupid American kid from doing... well, stupid stuff.
There were probably seven or eight kids in on the adventure, to include the four of us Coffeys. I think the driver had decided to teach us a lesson, because it took longer than usual for the bed of the truck to reach full extension height and even though I was a skinny little runt, I was beginning to think I would not be able to hold on until the bed was all the way down again and was contemplating how much it would hurt to fall back into the sand and go out the bottom. I was just about to let go when I heard a scream. I looked over my shoulder to see my sister Val disappearing with the sand out the bottom of the tailgate. I decided I could hold on a little longer.
We had to wait until the bed was all of the way down before we could climb down from the truck as it lumbered away before we could rush back to try and find Valerie in the pile of sand. We were crying and digging and wondering how big a spanking we would get if Val were dead. As anyone can imagine, we were no strangers to large group spankings.
Then one of us found her head, and we dug frantically and faster. When we got her head cleared she began spitting out sand and crying. As we realized she was going to be fine and we were off the hook, we pulled her out, and then ran to catch another truck.
By Carol Coffey, about sister Valerie
As kids, we were nothing, if not innovating in finding new ways to have an adventure. At this time I was about 10, David would have been 9, Val was 7 and Darryl 6. I don't remember anymore whose idea it was, but we decided to jump onto the back of the dump trucks as they waited in line, hold on to upper back ledge as they dumped the sand into the swampy mess. Unlike in the US, there were no great OSHA laws in Thailand preventing people from doing stupid things, and even if there were, no low level Thai worker would ever stop a stupid American kid from doing... well, stupid stuff.
There were probably seven or eight kids in on the adventure, to include the four of us Coffeys. I think the driver had decided to teach us a lesson, because it took longer than usual for the bed of the truck to reach full extension height and even though I was a skinny little runt, I was beginning to think I would not be able to hold on until the bed was all the way down again and was contemplating how much it would hurt to fall back into the sand and go out the bottom. I was just about to let go when I heard a scream. I looked over my shoulder to see my sister Val disappearing with the sand out the bottom of the tailgate. I decided I could hold on a little longer.
We had to wait until the bed was all of the way down before we could climb down from the truck as it lumbered away before we could rush back to try and find Valerie in the pile of sand. We were crying and digging and wondering how big a spanking we would get if Val were dead. As anyone can imagine, we were no strangers to large group spankings.
Then one of us found her head, and we dug frantically and faster. When we got her head cleared she began spitting out sand and crying. As we realized she was going to be fine and we were off the hook, we pulled her out, and then ran to catch another truck.
By Carol Coffey, about sister Valerie
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