The Mysteries of Brambly Hollow

time, and overwritten by a lime green graffiti of scaly lichen. The inscription read:-

    Finn Mountford
    son of Elsa & Ken
    five years old when taken

    “Mountford?” Meli read the name out loud, confusion in her voice.
    “That’s Finn’s name. Elsa’s too, until she reverted back to her maiden name. You know, after what happened.”
    Now that was definitely news. Straightening, she lifted her gaze to Tim, her eyes narrowed against the glowing backdrop of azure sky that framed his head. “Do you remember what happened?” She couldn’t see his expression, which was hidden in shadows, but she caught the nod of his head on its long stalk. With his wild shock of hair and his blanked out features, he reminded her of a giant sunflower.
    “It was a blessing by all accounts.” He flicked his gaze over his shoulder, back towards the church and the pathway, as though checking there was no one around who might catch him speaking about this. Apart from a couple of bumble bees working their way across the graveyard, all was quiet. Wiping his hankie around his neck he poked it into the breast pocket of his shirt. Tim definitely appeared uncomfortable. “Hardly anyone ever saw the boy. Wasn’t right, you know, in the head. Elsa kept him hidden away. Then there was the accident on the farm. Fell from the tractor. Died instantly. Elsa, well Elsa was never the same.”
    Lowering her gaze she stared back at the headstone, wondering why no one had ever mentioned any of this before. Especially knowing what troubles they were having with Elsa.
    As if reading her mind, Tim said. “All happened long ago in the past. Best left buried there too.” His voice held a note of finality to it, possibly even an edge of warning, warning her to leave alone? Meli was a little surprised therefore, when he added in a gravely whisper. “And so much trouble after.” The hankie was whisked out again and dabbed over his cheeks; to mop up perspiration, or wipe away tears? Meli just couldn’t make out no matter how hard she squinted.
    Sensing that now might be a timely point to conclude this particular session, Meli said. “Well, thanks for showing me the grave, Tim.” He was gazing away into the distance, over her head, lost in the memories of long ago. “The boys will be wondering where I am.” When he still didn’t respond, Meli left him standing there unmoving, like a pole hammered into the soil. Her heart was unusually heavy as she headed home. Poor Elsa. She had suffered so much. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than loosing a child. Then to have your marriage break up too, and loose your other child as well. Horrible, just horrible. No wonder she was crackers.
    The twins were sitting on the wall, taking it in turns to throw pebbles at a nominated cow pat, seeing who could make the most hits while they awaited her return. “Been here long?” Meli asked, resisting the urge to pull them both to her chest and cover their scruffy golden heads with kisses.
    “Nope,” David replied as he dropped down from the wall. “And I won, thirteen to twelve.”
    “No you didn’t, it was a draw. That first one didn’t count cos you were standing up,” bleated George as he landed on his feet beside his brother, unhappy to think that he had lost by one shot.
    Unlocking the door, Meli was smirking to herself at their antics, which at any other time might have piqued her, but since her visit to the graveyard, she considered herself so lucky to have two healthy twins, until George commented. “Hey mum, have you seen your bum?” By rotating her neck around her shoulder, and by sticking out her bottom, she saw what George was referring to. She had huge scuffed grass stains on both cheeks of her shorts, from her encounter with Elsa in the pasture, which then reminded her about the tear at the front, and the blood stain. To think that she had been out looking in such a state. And in front of the vicar too. What must he have thought of her? She was mortified.
    Trotting up to her room she grabbed some clean shorts and then locking herself in the bathroom, she washed her leg and changed. The torn shorts were only fit for the bin, and that was where she chucked them on her way to the fridge to pour herself a pint of ice cold lemonade, while the boys helped themselves to a snack of digestives.
    Meli had so much to think about. She also had a lot of work to catch up on following her enlightening afternoon. She made excellent progress, despite all