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A Chalet School Christmas Mystery (completed 22nd Dec, p2)

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#1: A Chalet School Christmas Mystery (completed 22nd Dec, p2) Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:21 pm
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Joey Bettany awoke suddenly and completely, right in the middle of a thrilling, if implausible, dream.

“Bother” she muttered. “Now I’ll never know how it feels to ride a flying horse. Why did I have to wake up at just this moment.”

The school was still dark and silent. Outside the moonlight reflected off the snow, giving everything a pearly sheen. But the dormitory shutters were closed and in there it was still very dim. Nothing seemed to be stirring.

Having woken up, Joey discovered that she was very thirsty. Grumbling to herself she slipped out of her warm bed with a shiver. Pulling on her dressing gown and slippers she slid silently out of her cubicle and set of for the nearest bathroom to get a drink of water.

In good weather the bathroom shutters were always left open and Joey surveyed the scene before her. Crisp, unmarked snow stretched to the banks of the frozen Tiernsee.

Joey frowned as something caught her eye. She craned her neck slightly to get a better look. The unexpected sight that met her sent her flying from the bathroom as fast as her legs would carry her.

“Madge, wake up Madge” she cried, shaking her sister.

“Joey, are you ill?” asked Madge, only half awake.

“No, I’m fine” that young woman said impatiently. “But I think we’ve got a burglar.”

“What!” Madge sat up, fully awake now.

“Something woke me, and I got up to get a drink” Joey explained breathlessly. “I was looking out of the bathroom window and I saw footprints in the snow leading to the Chalet. When I looked to see where they went I saw that they stopped at the door, and someone had left a pair of boots there.”

Madge pulled on some warm garments and, with her sister at her heels” sped downstairs. At the door she stopped. There were indeed footprints leading to it, but they continued around the side of the building, and there were no boots in sight.

Realising how cold it was, Madge sent her delicate sister back to bed with instructions to stay there while she looked into the matter.

The next morning Madge informed Joey that no-one had forced an entry, and nothing was missing. She assumed it must have been a local, seeking shelter from the cold.

“But what about the boots I saw? They weren’t the sort of boots that people round here wear. They were high, black ones. I’m sure I’ve seen ones like them somewhere, but I can’t quite think where.”

To this question Madge was quite unable to give an answer.

Last edited by Secret Santa on Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:30 pm; edited 6 times in total

#2: Author: Lottie, Location: Humphrey's Corner

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:15 am
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How mysterious! I wonder if Carys will persuade Miss Marple to help her solve it. Wink

Thanks, Santa.

#3: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:54 am
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Intriguing!

Thanks Santa.

#4: Author: Travellers Joy, Location: Middle of Nowhere

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:23 am
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And ...? Shocked

#5: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:51 am
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Thanks Santa Very Happy

#6: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:56 am
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Thanks very much Santa! Did those boots belong to you by any chance? Very Happy

#7: Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:45 pm
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The next day was fine and all the girls were sent out for a walk. The ground was very slippery and, despite their nailed boots, more than one of the girls found themselves unexpectedly lying in the snow.

On the way up the path to the Chalet Bianca distinguished herself by not only slipping but landing on her front and sliding almost the length of the path. Fortunately she was well bundled up and, as Joey said later, almost bounced as she landed.

The only part of her not protected was her face which received a lovely graze all down one side. Miss Maynard promptly hustled her inside and up to the Matron who Miss Bettany had recently seen fit to employ.

Cotton wool and iodine were produced and Bianca’s cheek was liberally anointed.

“Why Matron” Bianca said looking in to the medicine cupboard. “You must expect us to have many accidents. You have cotton wool enough for a whole hospital I would think.”

To this statement Matron was quite unable to give a reply.

#8: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:58 pm
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The plot thickens!

#9: Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 2:57 pm
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Ooh - now why could Matron need so much cotton wool...?

#10: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:39 pm
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This is most mysterious!
I'm feeling very spoilt now! Very Happy

#11: Author: brie, Location: Glasgow, aka the land of boredom

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:11 pm
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How curious!

#12: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:22 pm
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Hmm. High. black boots ... lots of cotton wool ... I wonder???

#13: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:17 am
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Tara wrote:

Hmm. High. black boots ... lots of cotton wool ... I wonder???

So do I

#14: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 8:33 pm
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Ho, hum! Laughing

Thanks, Santa.

#15: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:07 pm
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Am also wondering... Very Happy

#16: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:33 am
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What on earth is Matey up to!

#17: Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:45 am
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The following day Miss Durrant was picking up some papers at the end of her last lesson of the day when Simone burst into the room.

“Miss Durrant, there are hunters in the Chalet!” she cried in her own tongue.

“Hunters?” the mistress asked in the same language. “What do you mean Simone?”

“They have cut off the head of a deer and it is on the floor in the hall.”

“A deer” Miss Durrant asked. “Have you ever seen a deer around the Tiernsee?”

Simone shook her head, her dark eyes wide.

“Come with me, and I will have a look.”

In the hall nothing was to be seen but Miss Maynard’s back as she walked into the staffroom.

“See child, if there had been a real deer then there would be some blood or something on the floor. One of the younger girls must have dropped one of their toys.”

“But who has such a toy?” wondered Simone.

To this thought Miss Durrant was quite unable to give a response.

#18: Author: Róisín, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:47 am
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*adds up the clues on her fingers*

So Matey, for some reason, needs big black boots, lots of cotton wool and the *head* of a fake reindeer to carry out her mysterious work. Hmmmmmm Laughing

Thank you Santa Very Happy

#19: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:56 am
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Thanks Santa! Very Happy

#20: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:54 pm
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Laughing

Thanks Santa!

#21: Author: Elbee, Location: Surrey

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:47 pm
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Very mysterious Laughing

!

Thanks, Santa.

#22: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:26 pm
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Thanks, Santa. This is a mystery indeed Laughing

#23: Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:56 pm
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Later that evening in Le Petit Chalet the juniors were going to bed. Amy Stevens, who was a frail young creature, had been prescribed a tonic by Dr Russell and she had to see Mademoiselle every evening before bed to take it.

That evening she went as usual to Mademoiselle’s study and knocked on the door.

There was no answer, but the door was ajar. Knowing that she was not allowed to linger in the chilly corridors, Amy pushed open the door and went in.

In the middle of Mademoiselle’s desk was a pointy green hat.

Amy stared at it, transfixed, and didn’t hear Mademoiselle until the latter put a hand on her shoulder.

“Mademoiselle” she breathed “is that an elf’s hat?”

“It looks like it” her kindly teacher said. “I am going to leave it on my desk, and we will hope that whoever lost it will come back during the night.”

Amy nodded, her eyes shining. A real elf in Le Petit Chalet!

The next evening when Amy came for her tonic the hat was gone.

“Mademoiselle” she said. “How did the elf get in to your study? I saw you lock the door last night, and even an elf couldn’t get down the stove chimney.”

To this idea Mademoiselle was quite unable to give an explanation.

#24: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:48 pm
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Curiouser and curiouser

#25: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:11 am
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I hope the mystery is resolved in time for Christmas!
Thanks Santa! Very Happy

#26: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:31 pm
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Thanks, Santa!

#27: Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:28 pm
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That weekend Herr Mensch had to come to the Tiernsee for a few days and brought Gisela and Bernhilda with him to spend a few days at their old school.

They were sitting in the prefects’ room talking with their friends and Miss Maynard who, as a Christmas treat, had cancelled her maths lesson in the visitors’ honour.

“We saw Dr Russell in Innsbruck on Thursday” Gisela commented.

“That cannot be” Gertrude replied. “He is in Vienna on business and won’t be back until next week. I heard Madame telling the Robin only this morning.”

“It certainly looked like him” said Bernhilda. “He was talking with Doctor Giovanni di Bersetti who is a friend of Gottfried’s. I believe Dr Giovanni is going to work at Dr Russell’s sanatorium during his university holidays.”

“I’m sure he isn’t here” Juliet said firmly. “The Robin was quite disappointed that he wouldn’t be at our Christmas party tonight.”

“Do you know when Dr Russell returns?” Bette asked Miss Maynard.

To this enquiry Miss Maynard was quite unable to give information.

#28: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:32 pm
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Santa, you've really got me intrigued now!

#29: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:14 pm
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And me!

#30: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:59 pm
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All very suspicious!
What next?

#31: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:28 am
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Ooh, I'm going to have to put my computer away tomorrow to make room for all the family coming, and I do want to know what happens!

#32: Author: Secret Santa, Location: The North Pole

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:29 pm
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That evening the Chalet School had a grand Christmas party in the hall. They had games, dancing and the most festive dainties that Marie could produce. The juniors, staying up an hour late for the occasion, were enthralled by it all.

The climax of the evening came when a curtained-off corner of the hall was revealed to be hiding Santa Claus! He was wearing a red suit, fluffy white beard and large black boots with one of his reindeer peering over the back of his chair. A green-clad elf, his hat pulled well down over his face, stood beside him with a large sack, passing presents to Santa for every girl and mistress.

Joey, Bianca, Simone, Gisela, Bernhilda and the prefects all looked knowingly at the scene, understanding the reasons for the mysteries and evasions of the past week, while Amy’s belief in the magic of Santa Claus remained unshaken.

Happy Christmas!!

#33: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:25 pm
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Lovely - thanks Santa!

#34: Author: PaulineS, Location: West Midlands

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:28 pm
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I wonder when Jem will reappear?

#35: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:38 pm
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Awwwww - how lovely

#36: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:42 pm
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That was lovely, thanks

#37: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:26 am
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A lovely ending - thank you, Santa.

#38: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:36 pm
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Thank you, Santa Laughing

#39: Author: Carys, Location: London

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:27 pm
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Thank-you Santa for my wonderful Christmas drabble!

#40: Author: Elbee, Location: Surrey

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:21 pm
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I love the way all the staff plotted together!

Thanks, Santa.

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