“Don’t you have a gutter press in New Zealand?”
“Not as low.”
“Well done, you. All the same, I don’t see why K.J.’s idea strikes you as being so very low. No sex. No drugs. No crime. It’s as clean as a whistle, like Watty’s hands.” He was looking rather intently into Jenny’s face. “Sorry,” he said. “You didn’t like that, either, did you?”
“It’s just — I don’t know — or yes, I think I do. Wally’s so vulnerable. I mean, he’s been jeered at and cowed by the other children. He’s been puzzled and lonely, and now he’s a comparatively happy little creature. Quite a hero, in a way. He’s — not attractive, his sort aren’t, as a rule, but I’ve got an affection for him. Whatever’s happened ought to be private for him.”
“But he won’t take it in, will he? All the ballyhoo, if there is any ballyhoo? He may even vaguely enjoy it.”
“I don’t want him to. All right,” Jenny said crossly. “I’m being bloody-minded. Forget it. P’raps it won’t happen.”
“I think you may depend upon it,” Patrick rejoined. “It will.”
And, in the event, he turned out to be right.
WHAT’S THE ANSWER?
Do You Believe in Fairies?
Wally Trehern does. Small boy of Portcarrow Island had crop of warts that made life a misery.
Other Kids Shunned Him Because of His Disfigurement
So Wally washed his hands in the Pixie Falls, and — you’ve guessed it.
This is what they looked like before…
And here they are now …
Wally, seen above with parents, by Pixie Falls, says mysterious Green Lady “told me to wash them off.”
Parents say no other treatment given.
Miss Elspeth Cost (inset) cured of chronic asthma?
Local doctor declines comment.
(Full story on Page 9)
Dr. Mayne read the full story, gave an ambiguous ejaculation and started on his morning round.