Garth Greenwood grew up in a rural environment in Canterbury, the only son in a family of five whose parents involvement with farming went back several generations. As the only son, there were expectations. One of these was rugby, but succeeding in the national sport was never an option for Garth due to his light weight and awkwardness with anything that resembled a ball. He suffered badly from a lack of co-ordination, the result of his parents misguided idea that dominant left handed children should be forcibly changed to right handed because the world was designed that way.
- Garth's co-ordination problems also contributed to his mechanical ineptitude with any farm implement. The pain of correction from a heavy ruler on the knuckles at the dinner table was matched by paternal scorn at his vain attempts to assemble or fix things, or even work out which way nuts screwed or unscrewed.
- "My son, captain of the awkward squad, " his father would announce to anyone in listening distance.
- The school yard was no sanctuary for Garth. His unfortunate initials meant he was nick named " horsie " and was neighed at by both the boys and the girls in between being dead armed, foot tripped, held under in the school baths, and having his lunch stolen.
- Garth's father tried various methods to mould him in his own image, before deciding that he was " not a chip off the old block, not even a piece of bloody sawdust, " when describing him to a visiting relative loud enough for Garth to hear.
- "About as much use on a farm as fart at a funeral," was another favourite.
- At age twelve his father bought him a powerful air rifle for Christmas, much to Garth's surprise. Presents up till then had been largely practical or useful. The gun was a distinct departure, but Garth could only guess at the significance. After giving it some thought he settled for it being part of the "making a bloke out of him" campaign that his father had not yet totally abandoned. Garth tentatively tried the gun out on some tin cans on one of the stock yard fences, with some success, deciding that he quite liked the sense of power it gave him, as well as the sense of achievement as the cans flew in the air with a resounding "ping" each time he hit one.
- On Boxing day the family went camping at the Waimakariri river mouth,a relative agreeing to look after the farm for a few days while they experienced life under canvas and had a break for the first time in years. The next day two thrushes sat enjoying the sun on a pine tree branch close to their tent. Garth's father thrust the airgun into Garth's hands whispering "Sitting ducks lad. Get em." Garth knew better than to argue, so he took aim deliberately too low.
- To his chagrin, a slight upward jerk of the air rifle on firing saw one of the thrushes drop to the ground, very dead. He could hardly hear his father's rare praise, and was " off his food again" at the evening meal.For days afterwards the other thrush sat on the same branch, calling mournfully for its mate. Garth found it hard to bear, and sold the rifle to a neighbor's son a few weeks later after they had returned home. The lack of selling permission and punishment that followed meant he could not go to school for the first week of the first term until the bruises subsided.
- Garth had one friend, Patrick, but it was a friendship that had to weave its way through a thicket of parental abuse, Patrick being "a bloody Mickey Doolan" and someone who was certain to get him into trouble. At times he was forbidden to have anything to do with Patrick for offences that ranged from stealing fruit from a neighbours tree, to being caught in the hay barn smoking. The latter had been good for a six month's ban after the usual beating.
- When the ban was lifted Patrick was very careful when Mr Greenwood was around and watched what ever he said or did. He had increased his watchfulness after Garth had told him late one night in a smoking session about Raggles, the family pet.
- Garth had raised Raggles from a straggly, soaked and abandoned lamb after a big storm that had seen quite a few stock losses. He was always delighted by the way Raggles would run to him, whether he had a milk bottle or not, wagging his tail furiously. And how he would be waiting for him by the big gate when he came home from school. He loved Raggles, his only companion at that time.
- One evening as they finished eating, his father announced how delicious the meal had been and that the meat they had just consumed was Raggles. Garth sat disbelieving and looked to his mother, shaking his head.
- "You are joking, aren't you Charlie " his mother asked.
- "Nope," his father replied. " Not joking."
- "Oh Charlie, how could you?"
- "The lad needs to know the realities of farm life. Far too soft in the head."
- Garth ran from the room, hysterical.
- Years later, Garth's new bride was puzzled that he was not attending his father's funeral. She asked his best friend Patrick if he knew why, after Garth refused to discuss it. Patrick shrugged and changed the subject. She became more concerned when Garth refused to send flowers or a card. She realised she did not really know the man she had married.
