The CBB :: View topic - A Little Epilogue

#1: A Little Epilogue Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:05 pm

A LITTLE EPILOGUE

Jem Russell hurried into the hotel, his face grim and set in determined lines. What on earth was he to do with Madge? From the frantic call he had received twenty minutes ago from the Police, Madge had gone mad, and was creating a terrible disturbance in the hotel’s reception area.

He was appalled at the sight that met him. Madge was screaming despite the efforts of two policewomen to calm her down. Then she saw him, and pulling away from the despairing constables, ran towards him, sobbing.

‘Jem, tell these people to bring Sybil down here straight away. I’m her mother, and I want to see her. Now!’

Jem, none too happy at being woken from a champagne-fuelled sleep at the terrible hour of half-past seven on a Sunday morning by the urgent ringing of a telephone, could only manage to ask, ‘What are you doing here, Madge? Why have you come to this hotel so early in the morning? What on earth is going on?’

The hotel manager and the receptionist interrupted his questions. ‘Well, Sir James, she came into Reception at about quarter to seven this morning, demanding to speak to Mrs Sybil Lyall. We have no-one of that name registered, so I informed her of that. She accused me of lying, and again demanded to speak to her daughter, and her daughter’s husband, Hugh Lyall. I told her again that we had no guests who were called Lyall, and she grew very agitated and annoyed, and accused me of lying again.’ This was the receptionist’s contribution.

The Manager then took over. ‘When Lady Russell started shouting, our security officers came into Reception to help with the problem, but when Lady Russell refused to listen to them, they called me, and I came down to see what I could do about the problem. Fortunately, someone recognised your wife, so we were able to telephone you, but unfortunately, your wife became so abusive that we had to call the police. I’m sorry, Sir James, but we really cannot have this going on in reception. I’ve checked the register, and it is perfectly correct, Mr and Mrs Hugh Lyall are not guests at this hotel. I do understand, however, that they were married only yesterday, which does make me wonder why Lady Russell was so insistent on seeing her daughter.’

Jem groaned, then, patting the still-sobbing Madge on the back, he looked around at all the people in the room. ‘I’m very sorry about this, I cannot apologise enough. I think that I’d better get my wife admitted to hospital for a little rest. That must be my priority. Then, I’ll return to sort out this mess.’

One of the police officers agreed with him, so Jem was able to lead Madge out to the car. He then drove her to a small, discreet private hospital where she was put to bed and sedated. Jem then returned to the hotel. By this time, he too was growing worried. He was sure that Hugh and Sybil had told them that they were spending a couple of nights in the hotel before leaving for the rest of their honeymoon near the Great Barrier Reef.

After speaking to the hotel manager and offering to pay for any damage that Madge had caused, he returned to their apartment, and began to phone all the best hotels in the city. He was quite perturbed when he discovered that Hugh and Sybil were definitely not guests at any one of them. He then telephoned every hotel in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef. There were no bookings at any of them for a Mr. And Mrs. Lyall.

Jem began to get desperately worried. Where on earth could the two of them have got to? It was beginning to look as though the pair of them had vanished off the face of the Earth. He telephoned the police, and told them of his worries. Their response was unsatisfactory, to say the least. He felt that he could almost hear a snigger in the voice of the Desk Sergeant who took his call. ‘Married yesterday you say, Sir James, well isn’t it a bit soon to be contacting them? Perhaps they’ve gone in the opposite direction, just so they won’t be disturbed on their honeymoon.’

Jem could hear the unspoken words, ‘And I don’t blame them, if this is how her family are behaving.’ Jem tried to make the Sergeant understand how urgent the matter was, but when he mentioned his wife’s distress, the Sergeant’s voice hardened. ‘Yes, I’ve hard about that, Sir James. What sort of a mother interrupts her daughter’s honeymoon at that hour of the morning, the day after her daughter gets married? My advice to you is to leave the young couple alone to enjoy their honeymoon. They’re entitled to their privacy, don’t you think? They’ll be back sometime. Meanwhile, I suggest that you and your wife start thinking about the fact that your daughter’s married now. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting on with things that are far more important than a pair of honeymooners who’ve gone away somewhere to spend time by themselves.’

With that, Jem had to be content. A fortnight came and went, but there was nothing from the newly-married pair, not a phone call, not a post-card, not a letter. Jem found it hard to cope with Madge’s fretting, but even harder to cope with her temper and the threats she uttered about what she was going to say to Sybil when she saw her again. He tried his best to soothe her, but Madge refused to be placated.

In desperation, Jem telephoned Hugh’s house. He was dumbfounded when he discovered that Hugh had sold the house, but had not told the new owners where he intended to live in the future. He contacted the police again, and again found them very unhelpful. So he decided to employ a private enquiry agent. After making discreet enquiries, he decided on a firm, and outlined the problem to them. The agency were rather amused, and tried to dissuade him, but Jem was adamant. Using the information that Jem was able to give them, it really didn’t take the agency long to discover that the happy couple had sailed on the SS Corinthia on the evening of their wedding. Unfortunately, their representative made the mistake of giving the information to the Russells at their apartment. After witnessing Madge’s reaction, he couldn’t escape fast enough, especially when she started shouting that Sybil had to be brought back to Australia, by the police if necessary, and she, Madge, was not going to let her get away.

After patiently listening to Madge’s ranting and raving, Jem lost his temper, and told her a few home truths about their methods of parenting, and it was their own fault that their daughter had chosen to live in a different country. But he knew, just knew, that Madge would never accept that she had been at fault. He knew that he would spend the rest of his life listening to his wife’s complaints and vilifications about Sybil. He went into his study, poured himself a much-needed glass of brandy, and lifting it, he said, ‘Good luck, Sybil, wherever you are!’

#2: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:09 pm

Thankyou very much Jennie! Very Happy

I thoroughly enjoyed that. It was lovely to see Madge's reaction.

#3: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:11 pm

LOLOL Thanks Jennie. *Joins Jem wishing Sybil all the best.*

#4: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 2:22 pm

Excellent Jennie, thank you!!! I have such sympathy for Jem being left with such a Madge but none for her.

#5: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:00 pm

poor Jem! Like the idea of Madge being carted away by the men in white coats though Smile

thanks Jennie

#6: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:24 pm

I'll raise a glass to Sybil, too. I wonder if Jem should do a Mr Rochester and shut his 'mad' wife in an attic. Rolling Eyes

That was great, Thank you Jennie.

#7: Author: Emma A, Location: The Soke of Peterborough

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:30 pm

Thoroughly agree with the sentiments expressed - also the police comments when Jem was trying to look for Sybil and Hugh the day after their wedding Very Happy

. Glad to see he's still being sympathetic to his daughter. Any chances Josette will follow his example?

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

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:44 pm

Thanks Jennie Very Happy

Liz

#9: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:24 pm

Well done Sybil

#10: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 7:28 pm

Thanks for that Jennie - how dare Madge attempt to interrupt Sybil on her honeymoon? What did she plan to do? Drag her back to the family home? From what I can remember of this drabble Josette was as much of a cow - perhaps Jem should leave Madge and Josette alone together and 'go walkabout' Laughing

#11: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:06 pm

Good for Sybil and Hugh getting away. I can't believe Madge tried to interrupt her honeymoon!

#12: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:03 pm

Grin! What a scene!!! Thank you Jennie!

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

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 8:03 pm

Quote:

Fortunately, someone recognised your wife, so we were able to telephone you, but unfortunately, your wife became so abusive that we had to call the police.

So, if they hadn't recognised Madge, she'd have been locked up before Jem realised she was missing...

#14: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:01 pm

Thanks Jennie. I hope Sybil has managed to get away for good. I love the idea of Madge being taken away to 'rest'

#15: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:42 pm

lol, thank you!

#16: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 6:24 pm

Wonderful Jennie! Poor Jem what a future for him.

#17: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:10 am

Poor Jem! I hope he has a fulfilling retirement, despite Madge's "difficulties"

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