Sonny, Gogo, Tobo, and Their Adventures

By Jennifer Hashmi

These stories are about a boy who dared to make friends with someone who was different. He traveled to his friend’s country through the night on the back of an owl and gained many more close friends in a land, which no one can reach unless taken by the hand of one of its inhabitants. They are stories of adventure and the power of friendship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Feb 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491886038

Jennifer Hashmi

Jennifer Hashmi was born in Bradford in 1938. She was educated in Bingley Grammar School and trained as a speech therapist in Leicester School of Speech Therapy. After practicing as a speech therapist in Yorkshire for three years she completed a two-year theology course at College of Ascension, Birmingham. In 1964 she sailed to India and lived in Delhi for forty-one years. Until 1976 she served in the Church of North India as Parish Worker, initially for St. James Church in old Delhi, and later in the parish of Ajmer in Rajasthan. She was also during part of this time manager of a holiday home in Shimla. In 1977 she married Salman Hashmi who was principal of Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi. They had a son and a daughter. In 2004 her husband passed away so at the end of 2005 Mrs Hashmi returned to Britain with her daughter. She now lives in London with her daughter, son-in-law, and small grandson.

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© 2000, 2014 Jennifer Hashmi. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/06/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-8602-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7540-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-8603-8 (e)

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Contents

Sonny Goes To Pongoland

Gogo And the Electric Train

Pelids in Pongoland

Sonny And The Lost Key

Gogo And Tobo Ride On A Train

Sonny Visits Mother Fulati

The Princess’s Coronet

Sonny And The Golden Locket

Murgo Pongo Sees T.V.

An Unusual Picnic

Sonny and Great Uncle Parkin—Part-I

Sonny and Great-Uncle Parkin Part-II

Sonny and the Spangles Part I

Sonny and the Spangles Part 2

Sonny Goes To Pongoland

I t was Sonny’s birthday. His friends came to visit him and he received a lot of presents and had a cake with candles. His best present, however, came at bedtime when his Uncle arrived. He had brought a large parcel wrapped in red shiny paper. Inside it was a doll. Sonny’s Uncle said it was a clown. It was certainly very jolly with a smiling face and pointed red hat with a yellow pom-pom on it. It had baggy blue pants and a long sleeved blue and yellow striped shirt with yellow buttons on it. However, it was not quite like a man. Its face came to a point in front for a nose and it had pointed ears and round eyes.

At night-time Sonny put it on his bed beside him with its head on his pillow. He said goodnight to it and closed his eyes. The next moment a voice said,

"I’ m not a clown. I’m a Pongo.’ Sonny opened his eyes.

‘What did you say?’

‘I said I’m not clown. I’m a Pongo. My name is Gogo.’ The little man sat up.

‘What’s a Pongo?’ asked Sonny.

‘I’m one. I live in Pongoland. Shall I show you?’

‘Oh! Yes please,’ said Sonny.

In Pongoland we are all small like me. You are big, but if you hold my hand you will become small said Gogo Pongo. Sonny took Gogo’s hand in his, and immediately he was the same height as Gogo. They stepped on to the windowsill and an owl flew across from the neem tree in the garden and alighted on the sill.

‘This is Goggles,’ said Gogo. ‘Climb on his back behind me. Goggles brought me from Pongoland to see what your world is like. I was sitting in that toyshop looking at the toys when your Uncle bought me by mistake. Off we go!’ And off they went into the night, over the treetops and under the stars. Sonny was thrilled.

After some time they saw a bright light. It was an island in the sky, and palace towers could be seen at the top of a hill. Down the side of the hill were houses. Goggles brought them down in a green meadow, and they got off his back.

‘Please come after three hours,’ said Gogo to Goggles. ‘Now let’s go and see my Mother.’ She lived in a pink-walled house below the Palace. She welcomed them and gave them a lovely fruit-drink and cake. Then she said,

‘I’m very worried. Tobo has disappeared!’

‘Tobo is my younger brother,’ explained Gogo. ‘We’ll go and find him Mother.’ So Gogo and Sonny set off up the hill in search of Tobo. They reached the Palace-gates where two sentries were on guard.

‘Who lives in this palace?’ asked Sonny.

‘The King and Queen of Pongoland,’ said Gogo. ‘We aren’t allowed inside but we can walk round the outside.’ They started to walk round the Palace-walls, and suddenly a little voice called,

‘Gogo!’ They looked up and saw a small face at a barred window.

‘Tobo! What are you doing there!’ exclaimed Gogo.

‘I climbed on to a hay-cart and it brought me into the Palace. They tipped the hay in here and me with it! What shall I do?’ Tobo wept.

‘He’s always getting into a mess,’ said Gogo.

‘Could I go in?’ suggested Sonny. I’m a foreign visitor. I can ask to meet the King. Then I’ll try and get Tobo out.’

‘Let’s try it,’ said Gogo, and they went to the sentries. The sentries called a Palace servant to take Sonny to the King. Sonny felt quite afraid as he entered the courtroom and faced the King and Queen of Pongoland. However he bowed politely.

‘What can we do for you?’ asked the King.

‘I would like to see round your beautiful Palace,’ said Sonny.

‘Certainly,’ said the King and asked the servant to take Sonny round. The servant was surprised when Sonny asked to see the grain stores, but he took him to the passage inside the Palace wall where the carts brought their loads. There was a row of doors with wooden bolts across.

‘Which one do you keep the hay in?’ asked Sonny. ‘That one,’ said the servant pointing

‘Please bring me a glass of water,’ said Sonny. I’ll wait here.’ The servant went to fetch water and Sonny opened the door. Tobo was sitting on the floor still weeping, but when he saw Sonny he ran out.

‘Quick!’ said Sonny, and they ran to the gate and passed through. The sentries were surprised to see a Pongo leaving with the foreign guest but before they could ask questions the two had gone.

‘Oh well done!’ said Gogo. ‘Come along Tobo. Mother is very worried.’ They returned to Gogo’s house where his Mother ran to pick up her naughty Tobo. Then she invited them in to tea. Exactly three hours after they had arrived Gogo and Sonny were back in the meadow. Pongoland night-time starts when it’s morning in your world,’ said Gogo. They climbed on Goggles’s back.

In no time, it seemed they were back home and climbing in through Sonny’s window. They were both very tired after their adventures and in two minutes were asleep.

In the morning Gogo said not a word, but as Sonny got up he gave a big wink.

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Gogo And the Electric Train

D uring the days following Sonny’s trip to Pongoland, Sonny and Gogo developed a routine. Gogo made Sonny promise not to tell anyone he was not a toy. Sonny did not even want to, because if grown-ups found out Gogo could walk and talk they might lock him up in a zoo. So during the day Gogo rested. He slept a bit or watched Sonny play, and Sonny gave him things to eat.

At ten o’clock every night Goggles, the owl, was waiting for Gogo in the neem tree to take him home. Sonny begged to go again to Pongoland, but Gogo said he should not go