frozen within time

chapter 18

'It was good of you----you know----to give up your records,' Said Kristen as she and holly sat in the garden with Jessie, who was snoozing against holly's legs. 'I Just wish uncle John would get back or we might have to think of something else next.'

'I didn't give up all of them,' Said holly, looking a little guilty 'I kept one.'

'Really? Which one?' Replied Kristen

'I'll show you. You'll think I'm a ninny, but I didn't want this one to go,' Said holly, getting up and plonking Jessie's sleepy muzzle over on to kristens legs instead. The puppy snuggled a little, but didn't complain. Holly jumped over the stream and made her way back to the hatchway, while Kristen waited.

She found herself checking jessies furry nose while she waited and was relieved to see no more sign of blood. She hadn't noticed anything else about Karl either since last night. hopefully it was all going to be fine.

Holly was back quickly, a green and white and black record sleeve under her arm.

'Promise me you won't tease!' She said.

'Of course----why would I?'

'Karl's always teasing me about it. It's just that----well, you know, it's a sort of a crush. I'm not the only one!' She added, hurriedly. 'Other girls like him too.'

'Oh, I see.' Kristen smiled. 'I get crushes too. What about Orlando bloom, eh? You know----the one I showed you in the Daily mail . . . . In Lord of the rings?'

'What, with all that long hair? Golly. I couldn't like him. He looked like a girl!'

Kristen sighed 'live and learn,' She said.

'Max is much better looking----really a bit of a steamboat!' Said holly, flipping over the record cover.

Kristen burgled. she slapped her hand over her mouth. but she still could stop a peal of laugher splurging out between her fingers.

'Oh really, that's too bad of you!' Holly sat down grossly and Jessie shot up with a small yelp. 'You said you wouldn't!'

'B-but . . . .' Kristen struggled to control herself. 'Its max bygraves!' And it was----admittedly much, much younger than the elderly crooner Kristen had seen on tv once or twice, here in black and white, raising his thumb and smiling cheekily from the record cover. the record was called "a good idea, son". Even though it was fifty three years ago the object of hollys crush still looked like a cheery geography teacher. Holly was very put out.

'If you're going to be like that I jolly well shan't tell you anything, ever again!'

'Oh, holly! Look----I'm sorry.' Kristen finally got control. 'Its just that, in my world, all my life, max bygraves has been . . . . Well . . . . A golden oldie, I think they call them. He's really old now. Yes still great, of course, and I know my nan thinks he's fab . . . . But. . . . . Well.' She picked up the cover and tried to see what holly saw. 'Of course, back in 1955 he was quite a----a dish, wasn't he?'

'Do you think so?' Holly picked at the grass, pink in the face.

'Well----yes----now that I come to look at it. And I bet he had a great singing voice too.'

'Oh yes! I loved "meet me on the corner". I was going to listen in to him this week, on stars of variety on the light progrmme. Yes got a super voice.'