Instant Freeze

A Morning Stroll

Sure enough, Mr. Sharp did show up first thing in the morning with Katharine accompanying him, though the first thing that was heard at the breakfast table in the Branagh household was Casey, the family's Shetland sheepdog, running up to the door barking.

When the door was answered, the first thing Henry did was greet Katharine with a hug. After their hug, it was Casey's turn to greet her. The sheltie sniffed her hands all while wagging his tail excitedly, Casey felt the gentle hands of Katharine upon his sable coat of fur.

That day, Katharine was dressed as she usually was... Or at least as she usually was in the summer since Henry had met her five days prior. She had her earrings, a red lei necklace, a red hibiscus behind... her left ear? Well, now that was different. All other times, Henry had seen it behind the right ear. Why change it? Shaking his head, Henry continued to take in Katharine's appearance, wearing a red sarong that lacked any patterns as a dress and a pair of chunky white sandals with a thick sole, heavy buckles and wide Mary-Jane straps.

As Casey licked Katharine's hands, Henry asked: "Why is your flower on the left side today?"

Standing up, Katharine answered: "Well, why not?"

Henry did not understand the significance. He merely nodded and answered: "Fair enough."

As it turned out, Henry's parents were very understanding of why he had snuck out last night, though Dr. and Mrs. Sheung may not have been as understanding. When they went next door to discuss everything, what began was very long, yet civil and ultimately repetitive argument, that immediately resulted in Mrs. Sheung giving Henry, Katharine, Ku and Miao leave to go for a walk. The moment her husband opened his mouth, she knew what it was going to be like.

Thus, did the four teens go over to the Riel household and then the Malka household. While Ned, Marion's 's father, was happy to see Katharine safe and sound after everything had been explained it could not be said the same for Louis, Zac's father, who was a little bit disgruntled to hear that Henry, Ku and Miao had put themselves in danger by going to rescue Katharine. Still, he did let Zac go with his friends on their morning stroll, just as Marion was allowed to by her father.

It was a nice day without a cloud in the sky. Alas, this being the hottest summer on record, a cloudless sky was not a good thing.

As the six made their way down to the river, a woman spied Katharine and said: "Excuse me, young lady, you are fifteen or sixteen, correct?"

"I am sixteen." Answered Katharine. "Why?"

The woman handed Katharine a flier and Henry could see that it was for the Miss Teen Actaea Beauty Pageant, something that Ella Caine had won for the past two years. Sighing, Henry said: "If Ella wins for the third year in a row that will just be more gloating from her about her beauty." His eyes upon the text that said girls ages fourteen to seventeen could compete, he only wished that the age bit had been revised a few years prior. If girls age fourteen and fifteen had been prevented from competing, he would never have heard that arrogant belle boasting.

"Well, I typically don't compete in these sort of things..." uttered Katharine, staring at the flier. "But if it knocks Ella off her high horse, I'm willing to give it a try."

"I think there is going to be a lot of girls wanting to knock her off her high horse." Commented Miao.

"As long as someone does, that will be good enough." Said Katharine, still looking at the flier. The pageant was to be held at the river tomorrow at 12:30 PM, with contestants expected to arrive at 10 AM. "Oh, and the prize is being given by Minotaur Books."

"Good lord!" exclaimed Henry. "If Ella wins, she might burn whatever the prize is!"

"Is she a goose-stepping moron type or a moral guardian type?" asked Miao, more than a little bit shocked. She had only met Ella once, but Henry had known her for years and knew every side of her.

Immediately, Henry answered: "Both!"

"Well, we can't have that." said Katharine, as she looked to the woman who handed her flier and said: "I will compete."

"Oh, that is wonderful!" said the woman. "Might I get your name please?"

"Katharine Sharp."

"Excellent, I'll see you tomorrow, Katharine."

As the woman walked off, Henry sighed and watched as she approached another teenaged girl. Looking to Katharine he asked: "Do you think tomorrow will be more mundane than the last five days have been?"

"Lets hope so, Henry!" replied Katharine. "Besides, what could possibly happen at a teen pageant?"

The question had been rhetorical, but alas, Ku did not know that and so he suggested: "A murder?" The response he got was an elbow in the stomach from his younger sister.

"Lets hope not." Said Henry, as he took a seat by the river and stared across it. Katharine took a set beside him and gently took hold of his hand, while behind them Zac and Marion discussed making sure Ella tried no funny business at tomorrow's pageant. Miao may not have been happy with her brother's answer to a rhetorical question, but the two children of policemen were not about let such a suggestion be ignored. If Henry, who had known Ella the longest, had said "Lets hope not", then it was certainly a possibility she would stoop so low as to harm the competition.