frozen within time

chapter 17 - akhill high part 2

'Whizzer first day!' Said Karl while the school nurse checked over his ribs one more time. His torso was red and purple. 'You all right there, old girl?'

From behind a dodged of bloodied tissue Kristen gave a cheerful thumbs up. They all very much hoped her nose would stop bleeding by home time. Holly tried to smile sympathetically, but her split lip was very sore.

'I know just what to use to get the blood out of your blouse,' She said, carefully. 'Cold water and a little salt rubbed in.'

Alex sat on a plastic seat in the corner of the schools medical room and watched his hand swell up a little more. The knuckles were violet and green already. He grinned. He wasn't a violent boy by nature. but he felt a grim satisfaction every time he thought about the way his fists had connected with Roy o'neals chin. Just the once, of course, but even so . . . . He hoped Roy's chin looked worse than his hand.

Mr mccormack came in and Karl stood up again, but managed not to say "good afternoon, sir." Mr mccormack looked thunderous.

'Well, thus is a fine start to this year, I must say,' he flowered. 'And fine thanks for allowing you two in without getting in the full paperwork yet! If your uncle wasn't a good friend of mine, you can be sure you'd both be out on your ear again by now----all of you, in face. I've never seen such a scrum! Two major fights in one lunch hour and both of them involving a Richardson! If this what living in a hippy commune teaches you, then there's not much hope for any of us!'

'But it wasn't their fault!' Protested Kristen, although nobody could really hear her very clearly through the tissue. 'They were being picked on.'

'Your cousin has just concussed two boys!'

'Yes, b-but sir,' Said Alex, from his corner. The head teacher spun round and glared at him.

'Th-think about it. It was Roy O'Neal and the p-pincer twins . . . . And Kerry kingsley . . . . I m-mean, honestly . . . . What do you think happened?' Ales felt a rush of nerves and excitement. He had never spoken to a teacher like this before, but he was quite convinced now that he was right to.

Mr mccormack opened his mouth to retort angrily and then closed it. He pondered for a moment. Then, to alexa enormous suprise, he said, 'Well, you have a point, Alexandria. Perhapse I will just send a letter home to your uncle this time. But I want you all to know that I don't tolerate stand up fights at akhill high school. I advise toy all to keep a low profile for a while!'

Alex hauled Karl out of the school as quickly as possible at the end of the day, and found Kristen shoving holly along equally fast as he reached the gate. They were both looking fearfully around them.

They knew the pincer twins, Roy O'Neal, and Kerry kingsley well enough to expect a second round at any time. Although, thought Kristen, it had been absolutely glorious looking at Kerry's astonished, casserole splattered face, and hearing the laughter growing among the crowed. Nobody liked kerry, after all, and it was much more fun to see her get a face full of someone's lunch than to watch the new girl being bullied. In the afternoon classes a couple of other girls grinned at holly and three boys at the back made "salaaming" gestures go her as she went to her desk, next to Kristen. Kerry wasn't in any of their classes, so they were safe until home time.

'Oh, do give over, Alex!' Karl protested as his great nephew propelled him along to the bike sheds at great speed. 'Winkinsons don't run away!'

'No, I'm sure they don't. They don't run away. They don't give up. They don't have bodyguards, either----and that's our biggest problem right now.'