Month: February 2026

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The two of them have been in Mr Rafone’s tutor group for a year now and that’s continuing into the new school year. It’s mid September 2450AD, KristalClear has just turned sixteen, and within a few weeks NutJob will be sixteen too. In Wolfland, and everywhere else, there is no mainstream system of further education. Once people become adult, they finish school on the 30^th of June following their sixteenth birthday.

“What I want to know is,” says NutJob, “are graceful cantilever springs, springs for graceful cantilevers, or cantilevers for graceful springs?”

NutJob is the sort of person who typically over analyses anything mechanical, and he often has a new exciting side project to talk about. His latest one involves electricity, and that’s why CandiCrush and KristalClear have suggested that he and BarmyWaffle should meet.

Wednesday afternoons in Lancaster are special.

In the market place on this particular Wednesday afternoon, NutJob, KristalClear and CandiCrush are all at the Find Thyme Café, seated around a wooden table on the terrace. Lancaster’s Market Square is now a tranquil place, and it’s perfect for watching the world go by. On this side of the square, and on the other side in front of Magnum Opus, many of the tables are occupied by small groups of people, all drinking Manx tea, and all discussing their side projects.

Trying carefully to navigate a path to maturity, NutJob is more focussed on job hunting than he is on connecting with girls. However, KristalClear is undeniably attractive. Her charming, dark chestnut brown eyes, complement her long, straight, deep brown hair with its stunning, silky shine.

Occasionally when he looks at her, he thinks there’s a captivating stillness about her beauty. Her character is thoughtful, her outlook compassionate, and her advice is always sincere. He tries not to stare, but sometimes each of them has caught the other doing exactly the same thing. A failed attempt at a nonchalant glance. As far as NutJob is concerned she’s not trying to be radiant, she simply is radiant. She’s confident, yet composed and she is picture perfect.

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“When BarmyWaffle first mentioned Graceful Cantilever Springs,” says CandiCrush, “I thought he was talking about an idyllic oasis in the countryside. It turns out that graceful cantilever springs are some type of mechanical device that the boffins get excited about. It’s not some kind of yoga retreat at all!”

With a restrained smile, KristalClear is keeping her emotions firmly under control. She looks up to check the expression on NutJob’s face, nods reassuringly, and says, “I’m sure you’ll like him.”

Guiding her gorgeous, long, dark brown hair over her right ear, she continues, “BarmyWaffle sounds like a bigger geek than you!”

NutJob is a little cautious when making new friends for the first time. He’s known KristalClear for a while, and he’s met Commander Crush a few times, but he’s never met a scientist from the Garrison. Although he’s just heard a lot about him. BarmyWaffle should be retired by now, he’s four times older than the youngsters, and he’s twice the age of his boss, Commander Crush!

While waiting, NutJob is understandably nervous, and that’s allowed KristalClear and her friend CandiCrush, to dominate all the chat.

KristalClear and NutJob both attend Broadland Park High School. She likes him, but she’s not sure how much. She likes to say that once he’s had time to get to know you, and you’ve had time to get to know him, he’s fine.

Even if he is a bit shy and geeky, he’s generally a bright and cheerful young man, and his eyes are a delight. They are deep blue, happy eyes. Complemented by short, dark hair, a cute button nose and his soft, unblemished complexion, he has a slight baby face, which makes everybody think that he’s younger than he really is.

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