Daedalus and Icarus story almost cost me my life

Strolling down my memory lane, I’m not able to recognize the person I am today with the person I was in my tender age. I often slap, pull my ears and pinch myself when I think of the advanced level of stupidity I had those days.

Back in primary school, I encountered a story in one of the famous Kenyan English textbooks then --The New Progressive English. The story fascinated me to the core of my being.

Just to give you a summary, the story was about Daedalus and his son Icarus who lived in a small Island called Crete. It so happened that the King of the Island was not in good terms with Daedalus, something that made Daedalus and his son Icarus to sort a way of fleeing Crete for another Island. But how will they do it while they were surrounded by water? That was the big question. Well, you’ve got to understand Daedalus; he was a very wise man. After grappling with the issue for some time, he resolved to make his son and himself wings, using wax and feathers.

Everything went as planned and they finally took off. The father advised his son Icarus to fly at a middle height because by flying too low, the seawater would dampen the wings, and by flying too high, the sun would melt the wax imposing a great danger on him. For a while, Icarus heeds to his father’s advice but as gliding became more and more exciting to him, he ignored his father’s advice and flew off too high, close to the sun. Sure enough, the wax melted, the feathers fell off, and down-down-down Icarus tumbled into sea and drowned. His father mourned but Icarus was no more.

Now, see how stupid I was! Then I was in class two and the story was in class four English text books. That means I didn’t know how to read well so, from the excitements that grabbed me just by looking at the pictures that illustrated the story, I talked my elder sister into narrating the story to me.

Now that I knew the story inside out and had everything that transpired in the story was right at my fingertips, my fascination grew to a whole new level.  

You know in those days, I believed in almost everything and therefore the story came out so real to me. Amidst great amusements, I was totally convinced that Daedalus and Icarus had actually soared like the eagles. I didn’t know where to draw the line between fiction and reality. 

With my insane kind of excitements, day after day, I promised myself that just like these fellows, someday I was going to fly. I repetitively assured myself that if Daedalus and Icarus did it, I can do it better! I remember reminding myself that I was not a fool to make the stupid mistake Icarus did by fly too high to the sun. I’ll apply my great wisdom and glide at a considerable height to avoid being scorched by the sun.

Well, days came and went and finally the big day rolled around. It was a Sunday and most of our parents had gone to church; giving us that golden opportunity to showcase all kinds of madness our little minds could comprehend.  Back then, my peers considered me as the bravest person, something that made me influential and famous. To every kid, I was the adviser, inventor and almost everything. Therefore, when word finally spread among my peers that I’ll be showcasing my ingenious invention, there was no single kid in the village that was left behind. As young as they were, they knew that seeing is believing and that it was better for them to see than to be told!

Not ready to disappoint the ‘sea of humanity’ that had gathered to witness history being written, I sprang into action. Unlike Daedalus, I didn’t have an access to wax and feathers so I had to use readily available materials. Banana leaves would serve as feathers while pieces of ropes would take the place of wax.

With the help of my eager spectators, I had some leaves tied around my waist which I would wiggle round and round as I glide. On the legs, I tied another bunch of leaves just above the ankles which would serve as the airplane’s tail stabilizers. (I drew my inspiration from far and wide. Hehee...)

Over my shoulders were heavy banana suckers that I was to use for flapping. I wasn’t finished; around the head, I had another huge horde of leaves which I would use as a propeller by spinning my head in circular motion.

Now, all eyes feasting on me, I was determined to prove to my colleagues who I really was. Without thinking twice, I found myself at the top of an avocado tree –about 8 meters off the ground. Truth-be-told: at that moment, though I wore all this courageous face, my blood ran cold as I looked down from a distance far off the ground.

While I wasn’t just ready to lower my influence by being branded a loser, I couldn’t imagine what could befall on me just in case my wings failed me. I was stuck on the horns of dilemma.

Meanwhile, my friends not knowing what I was undergoing, cheered me up, assuring me that I was going to make it, and who knows perhaps I’ll fly all the way to Nairobi!  The mention of Nairobi lightened up my spirit and just like a flushing light, the picture of Daedalus and Icarus crossed my mind and at that point I was convinced that my dreams were valid!  Poor me...! I don’t know how, but somehow someway, before I was even ready, I released myself from about 8 meters off the ground!

"What happened next?" You could be asking. I don’t know. The only thing I remember is finding me in the hospital bed the following day, writhing and groaning in pain. My whole body was acing. I had injured my ribcage and fractured my arm.