[Arry]

‘Shoo now! Band’s on a break for the moment and I’ve got someone to see.’ Ferdy watched as the children went running off in ones and twos back to their parents’ tables. All save one impish little lad of about five years of age who grinned up at him. ‘Ferdy’s got a girlfriend! O – o –ver there!’ he chanted, laughing as Ferdy turned a bit red about the collar. He’d seen Ferdy look toward that girl with the long hair and give her a wink.

‘Ah, Willi,’ returned Ferdy, putting his arm about the boy’s shoulders. ‘You’ve the right of it that I’ve a girl. But she’s my new met friend,’ he said nodding toward Aranel. ‘Now there,’ he went on, turning Willi toward the kitchen door where Ginger was just passing through, ‘there’s my heart’s own.’

‘Can’t see, Ferdy!’ the boy protested. Ferdy picked him up and sat him on his shoulders. ‘There she is, Willi. You can’t miss her pretty carroty curls. Name’s Ginger. Isn’t that a grand name? And if we were closer you could see the little sprinkle of freckles over her nose and fair cheeks.’

Now Willi had never heard of a girl being talked about like that. He clambered down from Ferdy’s shoulders and grabbed his hand, urging him toward the kitchen where Ginger had disappeared. It took little prompting for Ferdy to follow along at his side.