The CBB :: View topic - Maidie and Ros at the CS

#1: Maidie and Ros at the CS Author: James,

Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:48 pm

I really can't cope with creating my own characters... I'm trying this one because there's something I want to write about, but will drop it if I think I'm doing a bad job of it, because it's not something I can turn into one of my normal stupidity-filled ones... all feedback much appreciated.

Note: This is set (very roughly) at the period of Queen of the Abbey Girls, with a few changes such as Joy and Andrew deciding to move to Kenya, and in the CS world at just after New Mistress.

"I'll hate the place!" Maidlin sobbed, running to her room and dodging Rosamund's attempt to block her.

"Silly girl," Joy looked after her in dismay. "She must see it's impossible for the two of you to stay here while we're in Kenya, and the Chalet School has a wonderful reputation. It will help her with her music immensely."

Ros nodded. "Perhaps she'll come round to the idea. I'll go and talk to her."

"Thank you, Rosamunda," Joy said appreciatively. "Oh, how I wish Jenny Wren was here to make her see some sense!"

But Jenny Wren would not be back at the Abbey for some time, as she currently sat with her father in Sheffield, doing all she could do give him pleasant memories of his last few months with them. Joy knew that the poor man could not live much longer, and did not begrudge him his daughter's company, but the past weeks had made her realise just how much they had all come to rely on the younger girl.

Ros knocked on Maidlin's door. "Let me in, Maidie! So we can talk about this plan."

Maidie tried to reply, but could barely speak through her sobs. "Go 'way, Ros! I knew it would be like this - she doesn't want us anymore now she has him!"

Ros grimaced. She knew that Maid's thoughts weren't true, but she wished Joy could have broken the news to them a bit more gently, considering how highly-strung the young heiress was.

"It's not that, Maid. Joy thinks it will be best for us. And think what an adventure it could be!"

But Maidlin refused to answer, still crying, and Ros hesitated to join her friend, not wanting to make matters worse.

Last edited by James on Fri May 13, 2005 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: James,

Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:22 pm

A few weeks later, Ros and Maidie left Joy and Andrew at the train station to join their new school. Joy had half expected a tearful farewell from Maidlin, at least, but would almost have preferred this to her sullen silence - a silence which had been kept up almost since the first announcement.

Andrew tactfully withdrew to let his wife say goodbye to the two girls.

"Goodbye for now then, Rosamunda! Write to me often, won't you, and let me know how everything is."Joy turned to Maid and made one last try to get through to her ward. "Maidlin, I know you don't think so, but it's for the best, believe me!"

Maidlin's lip trembled and she nearly let the reserve she'd been keeping up for these weeks break down. She wanted to fling herself at Joy, to beg her not to go to Kenya, or to take her as well, or anything but leave her with these unknown people! But Maid had a stubborn streak, and she merely said "Yes Joy," then turned to walk away with Ros.

Joy looked after her, much troubled, and would have gazed at the pair for longer had not Andrew gruffly reminded her about the train they had to catch themselves.

#3: Author: Rachel,

Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:34 pm

Have already told you via MSN, but will post it here too Wink

Nice beginning - brilliant move getting rid of Joy and thank god for no twinnies!

#4: Author: Liane, Location: Manchester England

Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:43 pm

Looks like a good start James

#5: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 11:44 pm

Interested to see what's going to happen next. Thanks James

Liz

#6: Author: Tiffany,

Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 4:58 pm

Oooh, this is really interesting! Thankyou James!

#7: Author: James,

Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 6:09 pm

Oops, wanted to get more than this done but just seen the time and I'm going out any minute!

"Maidlin and Rosamund?" the young mistress asked, having tactfully waited for the pair to get their farewells said.

"That's right," Ros replied. "I'm Rosamund, this is Maidie."

"And I'm Miss Ferrars," smiled the teacher. "Now, let me introduce you to some of the others."

Boarding the train, Miss Ferrars escorted them into a carriage with two empty spaces. Its occupants, a set of girls around their own age, looked up and welcomed her.

"Have a good holiday, Miss Ferrars?" enquired the nearest girl.

"Very enjoyable, thank you Jo. I hope everyone else did?" Miss Ferrars grinned as she saw them all nod eagerly.

"Now, girls, this is Rosamund Kane and Maidlin di Ravarati, two new girls. I hope you'll make them very welcome! Jo, if you can take charge of Rosamund, and Alicia, perhaps you will see to Maidlin. Thank you, girls!"

And with that, Miss Ferrars left them to get to know each other.

Last edited by James on Wed May 04, 2005 7:53 am; edited 1 time in total

#8: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 11:03 pm

This looks really interesting James, looking forward to some more...

#9: Author: Cathy, Location: Sydney, Australia

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 2:25 am

Alice wrote:

This looks really interesting James, looking forward to some more...

Wonder how Jo and OOAOML will deal with Maid -- can't see her taking very kindly to their approach.

#10: Author: James,

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 8:15 am

Have I got the style reasonably right? I never worry about that when I'm doing something like Res, but would like to be fairly accurate here...

"Are you two friends from home?" Alicia asked curiously.

"Yes," Ros nodded. "I've lived with Maid's guardian for a few years - my parents are away in Switzerland."

Her face clouded somewhat. "Mother's not too well."

The rest made sympathetic noises, but could tell that she wanted to change the subject.

"Anyway, Joy's been ripping, she's let me stay at the Abbey with them."

"Living in an abbey?" interjected Heather Clayton.

"Well, not quite in the abbey," Ros laughed. "We lived at the Hall, but Joy's cousin owned the Abbey, and we spent lots of time there. We'll miss it, it was a beautiful place - but Joy's Lady Marchwood now, and going to Kenya with her husband..."

"Not Andrew Marchwood, the explorer?" Iris Wilmot put in.

"That's right," Ros agreed. "He owned the house next door, but was abroad for a long while, so we'd never met him. Then when he moved back, Joy met him, and now they're married."

"So you get to come to the Chalet School? Lucky you!" enthused Heather.

Maidlin glowered in response, a fact which did not go unnoticed by anyone in the carriage, although none of them mentioned it.

"So, what sort of things do you get up to in school?" Ros enquired.

And the rest of the journey passed quickly, with the older members of the school falling over themselves in their haste to tell the two new arrivals about sales of work, school plays, carol concerts, skiing, and all the other exciting activities they'd taken part in over the past few years. Ros was eager to hear more about all of it, whilst Maidlin barely spoke, but this was put down perhaps to tiredness on her part by most of the girls. Only Jo Scott looked rather curious, but tactfully refrained from commenting on her lack of enthusiasm.

#11: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 11:38 am

Style seems fine to me, I'd like to see some more please!! Smile

#12: Author: James,

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 6:16 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Mia! More would be good - I'm not sure about writing Mary-Lou as a serious character for once, seems v bizarre!

Near the end of the journey, an older girl, obviously a general favourite to judge from the greeting she received, popped her head into their compartment.

"Hallo, everyone! Good to see you all. Hope you've all had nice holidays - I certainly did."

She looked around. "Goodness, two new girls! Hello, you two! I'm Mary-Lou Trelawney - pleased to make your acquaintance!" she pealed with laughter.

Ros smiled somewhat shyly, and even Maidlin's countenance lightened slightly. "I'm Ros Kane, this is Maidie Di Ravaratti."

"What an unusual name? A short, I suppose?" She directed the question at Maidlin, who spoke for almost the first time since leaving Joy.

"It's short for Madalena."

"Gorgeous," Mary-Lou nodded appreciatively. "My Aunt Joey will love it, you must let her use it for a book. Oh, I'll leave them to explain about Auntie Jo to you." She headed off the question she could see forming on Ros' lips. "Anyway, the powers-that-be have seen fit to make me a prefect, so if you ever need anything, come and see me, and I'll do what in me lies to help. That's what I'm here for. Well, that, jumping on some of these young scamps, and coming to give messages - such as this one. We're nearly at Dover, everyone - get ready to scram!"

With a laugh and a wave farewell, she disappeared to the next compartment, and the inhabitants of this one quickly gathered their possessions together, ready to catch the boat to France.

#13: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 6:26 pm

Quote:

I'm not sure about writing Mary-Lou as a serious character for once, seems v bizarre!

Ha ha, tell me about it! I am having real problems in mine! Very Happy

I think this is great, I love the way you've captured the language that they use in the actual books - I'm too lazy to do that!

#14: Author: James,

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 6:57 pm

Just read the first page of yours Mia, v good and nice to see David and Rix Smile

#15: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 9:05 pm

Thank you!

What is the 'serious issue'? I am intrigued!

#16: Author: James,

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 9:11 pm

Heh... the time it's taking me to get there, I'll have forgotten! Wait a while and see.

#17: Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 9:57 pm

Thanks James - is this the term after New Mistress - and will Ros get to see her mother, since the CS is in Switzerland, after all?!?!?!

#18: Author: James,

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 10:07 pm

This is the term after New Mistress (unless there's any glaring inconsistencies - although they can just be EBD'isms, I suppose!)

As for Ros and her mother, that's another wait and see...

#19: Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under

Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 10:41 pm

<vbeg> I have found one glaring inconsistency - if Ros and Maidie are from around the Queen of the Abbey Girls time, that's definitely pre-WWII. New Mistress is definitely post-WWII. Did they get frozen in time in an avalanche??? Twisted Evil

#20: Author: James,

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 7:46 am

I told you there'd be EBD'isms... Razz

#21: Author: jonty, Location: Exeter

Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 12:27 pm

Sophoife wrote:

That's what I thought too Smile

Then I told myself very firmly that it can't possibly matter in a Xover, if it's OK to mix universes it has to be OK to swap times too. I've just come across this drabble, loving it. Thanks, James.

#22: Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under

Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:30 pm

<vbeg> means Very Big Evil Grin - so I was just being deliberately nit-pickety - and I'm pretty sure James knew it Smile

Anyway James, more story please! You have plenty of EJO to go from (gee wonder how I know that?)!!

#23: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 8:08 am

So that's how Joy knew about the Chalet School to send the twins there in my drabble which I will continue one day!

Looking good James.

(Plot Guess...Maddie sulks and her Italian blood is blammed. Ros doesn't because she is a respnsible member of society. She gets made head girl instead of OOAO)

#24: Author: James,

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 8:17 am

Sorry guys, been busy this week... v hopeful of more updates today though!

#25: Author: James,

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 12:24 pm

[Note here: ages may be slightly off to fit in with stuff. Thanks to RTW for giving me a rough idea of who'd be in the Fourth or thereabouts!]

Maidlin had had little time to sulk the rest of that day, as the journey was a busy one, and they had eventually reached the Gornetz Platz in time for the evening meal. A whirlwind tour of the school given by Heather Clayton and Prudence Dawbarn had left Maidie confused and Ros breathlessly excited, and thanfully they were in the same dormitory, along with Heather, Len Maynard, Betty Landon, Carmella Walther, and dormy prefect Jo Scott. The others had been friendly, but inclined to leave Madalena well alone after she had snapped at a couple of them. Ros had tried to apologise for her chum's behaviour surreptitiously, and feelings weren't hurt too badly - with the five putting it down as a bad case of homesickness.

The next morning, there was another whirlwind of activity, leaving the dreamy Maidie struggling to cope as she was expected to strip her bed - which Ros helped her with, to frowns of disapproval from Jo and Len, who nevertheless let it go for this first morning - have a lukewarm bath, dress quickly, and say prayers. They then shot down to breakfast, where the main topic of discussion was the likelihood, or lack thereof, of people being moved up to a higher form. As they discussed this with gusto, a doubtful thought crept over Ros's mind. She glanced at Maidie, sat opposite her, but decided to say nothing for now. After all, it might not happen that way...

However, after prayers, she found that things were to be just the way she had feared. She was to be in Inter V, along with Jo, Len, Heather, and several others they had met, whilst Maidie - who had always struggled with much of her work - was in Upper IV, alongside girls they had not met. Maidlin looked over at Ros, panic in her eyes, as the names were announced, and it was clear that she hadn't considered this possibility. Ros bit her lip and shrugged helplessly.

On their way out, she was at least able to get the chance of a quick word with the other girl. "Maid, it's only for lessons and things - at least we're still in the same dormy! And they're probably a nice crowd - I can see that I'm going to have to work some to keep up with Len and Jo and the rest, from what they've said!"

Meanwhile, Len had commandeered Janice Chester, an old family friend. "Keep an eye on the new girl, Jan. I think she's homesick, make sure people don't tease her."

"As if we would!" Janice responded indignantly. Len laughed, but was slightly uneasy - many of the Fourth, including her cousin Ailie Russell, were no angels, and there was a glint in the eye of one of the new girls, Juliet Carrick's niece, that looked like it could spell trouble.

#26: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 1:31 pm

Thank you for that, James, is it too soon to hope for more?

#27: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:17 am

C'mon James, what about s'more?

Please.

#28: Author: James,

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 7:26 am

Oh wow, someone's still reading...

Okay, since you asked nicely, will try and get the next part up later today...

#29: Author: Tiffany,

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 11:21 am

I'm still reading, James!

#30: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 11:22 am

I'm sstill reading too, and looking forward to more Very Happy

#31: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:57 pm

My son just came in to tell me the Crocodile Hunter is in Kenya today and I nearly said 'Oh, that's where Joy and Andrew are' Embarassed

#32: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:10 am

I've just read this story and it's really good. I would love to read some more of it when you have time, James.

What is 'Abbey and the Girls'? Is it a thread or was it one of the books EBD wrote?

#33: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:31 am

The Abbey Girls were another GO series written by E.J. Oxenham.

Liz

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