The CBB :: View topic - A Study Scene

#1: A Study Scene Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:13 pm

Miss Annersley, sitting in the imposing chair behind her desk, stroking the fluffy white cat that she had recently required, surveyed the row of middles standing before her. A quick sweep with the penetrating glance of her blue-grey eyes set the sinners squirming. X-ray vision had its uses, though, Miss Annersley reflected as she fixed her glaze on one of the shorter members of the group. "Before we go ANY further, I suggest, Lisette, that you give me that viking poking stick, which I believe belongs to the British Museum in any case?"

Liss scowled, blackly, and handed over the poking stick. "It's not as if they were using it" she muttered, "they even had the label wrong on the case... they reckoned it was some kind of brooch". The rest of the group rolled their eyes and tutted.

Miss Annersley held up a hand for silence, which was speedily achieved. "I wish to know who was responsible for the unseemly display to which we were treated earlier on. This sort of behaviour is simply unacceptable, and you are all old enough to realise that. I am shocked to think that any Chalet School girl could behave in such a fashion." Her eyes swpt over the group again, this time sending out the "penetential-burning-need-to-confess" vibes that had never yet failed. Nor did they this time.

Confessions poured in thick and fast: "I beat her hat up because it was looking at me funny"
"I wear a lime green catsuit whenever I can get away with it"
"I am an evil genius. Or possibly just mad. But I would rather be an evil genius."
"I couldn't remember my friend's surname so I just put 'the Terrible' instead on the envelope instead"
"I am a GOOD girl"
"I prefer my database to my friends"
"I am drunk... again..."
"I am the Smut Queen"

None of these were the confession she wanted though, and Miss Annersley glanced again at the group of girls. One of them, who was NOT taller than the girl who was standing next to her, had her lips firmly pressed together. Her jaw appeared to be shaking, and she was obviously holding in a confession. Miss Annersley decided it was time to change tactics.

At that moment, the girl who was "not as little as we think she is" created a diversion by coughing up blood. A minor matron appeared from a handy cupboard and looked at her critically. "As you are not an elderly smoker I'm not bothered," she said, shrugging, "but do finish the course of penicillin". With that she vanished, to continue trying to work out WHICH matron she was, seeing as she was a short/tall slender/plump blond brunette with a bark that was worse than her bite.

Miss Annersley seized her chance. "Give this handkerchief to Xanantha please Rachel," she said, passing over a chemically-coated hankie.

As Rachel took it, the mysterious substance seeped into her skin, and she began to sob. "It was me. It was all me. I tried to make the others join in as well. I didn't think it was wrong. Oh, can you ever forgive me?"

"She can" chorused the rest of the group "but WILL she?"

"Rachel, you have to realise that this nidding is utterly unacceptable. And as for corrupting the Juniors like this - " at that point, Miss Annersley's glance fell on a small red-haired child, who APPEARED to be building a fire in the middle of the carpet.

"Christopher Rosie! Explain yourself!"

The Junior turned innocent eyes on her Headmistress. "George," she said slowly "is a VERY naughty goldfish".

Miss Annersley sighed inwardly, longing for the days when her contract entitled her to closed-door study scenes only. "Rachel," she continued, her voice gentle but firm "you must promise me solemnly that you will stop this nidding." Before Rachel could reply, however, another girl precipitated herself into the room, tripping over her smaller sister, whom she had not noticed.

"Please, Miss Annersley" she gasped "the nidding"

"Well Carolyn?" Miss Annersley snapped (in beautifully modulated tones)

"it's not Rachel's fault - it's the turtles"

"The turtles?" Miss Annersley said, slowly

"Yes Miss Annersley," Carolyn replied, earnestly "thye make you ytpe things th wrong way"

Miss Annersley sighed. It had been a long day. She needed a G&T and a relaxing bubble bath. She dismissed the girls, following a moving speech about duty, honour, and not spending your entire loan on GO books, and then flipped through her address book. "Elinor, is that you? I was wondering, maybe in the next book - perhaps I could, erm, go and visit some other schools... you could let Nancy Wilmot be Head for a bit..."

Last edited by Xanthe on Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:18 pm

Heh heh heh Xanantha! At least I was there at the conception of this little affair. Twisted Evil

ETA: I always knew there was a reason I wear latex gloves at all times - prevents evil truth serums leaking into my skin from illegally acting Head Mistresses!

Last edited by Rachel on Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

#3: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 6:23 pm

As the drabble shows, it was ALL RTW's fault *nids* nothing to do with anyone else... Wink

#4: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:28 pm

No, of course not Xan.... Rolling Eyes

*Smirks at the various confessions*

#5: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 7:28 pm

Rachel wrote:

ETA: I always knew there was a reason I wear latex gloves at all times - prevents evil truth serums leaking into my skin from illegally acting Head Mistresses!

Thanks for the tip RTW. Great Xanthe. May we have more please?

#6: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:00 pm

Excellent Xanthe, but, what, exactly, is nidding?

#7: Author: Alex, Location: Manchester, UK

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:01 pm

I too hallucinate with tonsilitis. Laughing

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

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:27 pm

*sniggles* Brilliant Xan!!!!! Very Happy

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

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:43 pm

Love it Xan!

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

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:50 pm

Turtles have a lot to answer for! ROFL

#11: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:58 pm

fandabulous! Laughing

#12: Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:08 pm

Ellie wrote:

what, exactly, is nidding?

Don't you lot know anything?!? Nidding is like nodding, only more refined.

#13: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:27 pm

Glad you liked it Very Happy

#14: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:52 pm

lol

#15: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:42 am

LOL - great Xan

#16: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:15 am

Were it not for the following, I might think that "nidding" was a figment of someone's fertile imagination:

In Storm in the Village, Miss Read wrote:

Somewhat to my dismay, she had unearthed a quite dreadful thing, called 'The Song of the Roses,' whose inane words echoed and re-echoed through our two classrooms as the interminable practising went on.... 'We are little rosebuds gay, Nidding, nodding through the day. Some are pink and some are white Some are clad in scarlet bright See us scatter petals sweet, Like confetti, at your feet.'

As it is, I am forced to picture Rachel as a little rosebud. Twisted Evil

#17: Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:58 am

Kathy_S wrote:

As it is, I am forced to picture Rachel as a little rosebud. Twisted Evil

I am NOT a little rosebud!

#18: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:00 am

at the image of RTW as a little nidding rosebud!!!! Thank you Xanthe!

#19: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 10:32 am

Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee... *snickering* Rachel the Rosebud...

#20: Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:15 am

Xanthe wrote:

Rachel the Rosebud

Yay we have a new nickname no longer will she be RTW - Rachel the Witch she is now RTR - Rachel the Rosebud Twisted Evil

#21: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:32 pm

Thanks, Xan, that was hilarious.

#22: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:15 pm

Xanthe! Would you believe my French grammar assignment this week is to answer such questions as 'have you ever started a fire?' *keels over giggling*

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

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:04 pm

*wondering whether it would actually be classed as suicide if I called Rachel 'rachel the rosebud' to her face...........*

#24: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:07 pm

Hysterical. THanks Xanthe

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

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:07 pm

Vikki wrote:

*wondering whether it would actually be classed as suicide if I called Rachel 'rachel the rosebud' to her face...........*

Yep! Crutch-assisted suicide. Laughing

#26: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:38 pm

Vikki wrote:

*wondering whether it would actually be classed as suicide if I called Rachel 'rachel the rosebud' to her face...........*

Dare you!!!! Twisted Evil

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

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:11 am

Vikki wrote:

*wondering whether it would actually be classed as suicide if I called Rachel 'rachel the rosebud' to her face...........*

suicide?... maybe reckless endangerment?... definitely Liz

#28: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:58 pm

Rosie wrote:

Xanthe! Would you believe my French grammar assignment this week is to answer such questions as 'have you ever started a fire?' *keels over giggling*

really?

#29: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:59 am

Hilarious Xan. Have been wondering where the rosebud thing came from.

#30: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:44 pm

Miss Annersley rubbed her forehead and sighed. Things seemed to be a little difficult this term for some reason. The incident with the dolphins and the bananas had been particularly trying, and she was looking forward to a break. Before she could jet off for a well-earned few weeks in Australia, however, she had to deal with a small problem. Well, about 5'3" of a problem, so perhaps it was more verging on the medium sized...

"Rosalie, could you arrange for me to interview the usual suspects at break today please?" Miss Annersley called through to her secretary, "It's just the one that's actually been causing trouble, but we have to stick with the tradition of lambasting all their known associates as well, just in case."

At the start of break, a clutch of girls was to be seen standing outside the study. Somewhere in the middle of the group lurked the reason they were all there, occassionally jabbing at people with her crutch, just to check their reflexes were up to speed, as she explained while jabbing mercilessly at someone she had cornered. "You'll thank me for it later" she beamed.

"Thank you Rachel" murmured the girl, looking pale.

A frown flashed across Rachel's face. "What did you say?" she snapped

"I mean, thank you Rachel-who-is-not-an-effing-rosebud" she said.

"That's better" Rachel said, smiling affectionately/baring her teeth (sometimes it is difficult to tell...) Someone (possibly Carolyn) knocked on the door of the study, and the group entered.

Miss Annersley looked at them. Some of them seemed almost too old for school, she thought, fleetingly, but then her eye fell on the two small girls, sitting on the floor in front of her desk, almost totally hidden under a plumeau, and she reconsidered. "I have called you here to discuss a very serious matter," Miss Annersley began, her beautifully modulated tones striking awe into her listeners instantly. Apart from Chloe, that is, as she was too busy gloating over her half of the Starburst to pay any attention to her surroundings. The Head glared at her, at which Chloe looked up and growled, so Miss Annersley decided to leave it. "There appears to have been an outbreak of inappropriate behaviour in the school," Miss Annersley continued, calmly "for which I am awaiting an explanation."

There was the slightest 'snap' as Rachel put on her latex gloves, followed by a resounding silence. Miss Annersley picked up a sheet of paper from the desk, and read aloud from it "fire in the costume cupboard, limited to where we keep the flower costumes acid split over almost every desk and work surface in the school repainting of all the lockers in shimmery purple paint and finally, that MOST unsavoury business with the golden syrup. We have reason to believe that there is a common factor in all this."

Miss Annersley paused for a minute, and looked at the group. Several of the girls were looking decidedly guilty. Suppressing a smirk and a dance of self-congratulation, Miss Annersley pressed on. "I am hoping there is a good reason for this, girls" the Abbess said gently, her eyes boring straight into Rachel.

"Please Miss Annersley, I began it," a voice piped up unexpectedly from the back of the group. "You, Kathy?" Miss Annersley said incredulously, as she tried to ignore the whispers from under the plumeau, wisely deciding that the probably DIDN'T want to know anything about poking with sticks.

"Yes Miss Annersley," the voice continued "I didn't exactly mean to though." After this, confessions flooded in thick and fast, and, disregarding the irrelevant ones, such as: "I didn't technically NEED the jumper, but it was so lovely, it practically forced me to buy it" and "I have a blackened and bony soul", the Headmistress pieced together the entire tale.

"Lesley," the Head said gently, her blue/grey eyes growing hard "you are old enough to know the difference between sneaking an reporting. You should have put a stop to, well, something, preferably the Golden Syrup incident." Lesley reddened, while several people, attempting to hide themselves behind pot plants, sniggered. Miss Annersley rounded on them (i.e. the over thirties) and gave them the extended "You are seniors and I rely on you speech", which received a standing ovation from the younger members of the group.

Feeling it was time to draw things together, Miss Annersley issued a variety of punishments designed to fit the various crimes, and then stood up. "There is one thing I want you to remember girls," she said, solemnly, "would you please understand, once and for all, that Rachel is NOT an effing rosebud!"

****************************************

The group shuffled out of the study and dispersed about their lawful occassions, some more cheerfully than others, dependening mainly on whether or not they were to be involved in the cleaning of the septic tank. Miss Annersley sank back in her chair and sighed, then opened the bottom door of her desk and pulled out the Scotch. Just as she poured a decent measure she became aware she was not alone in the room. There was a small flowery heap leaning against her chair. It was the plumeau, from under which came a muffled chorus of "stroke the plumeau... it will make things better"

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

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:52 pm

Scuse me, but I don't know the difference between sneaking and reporting! And I've no idea about the Golden Syrup incident! Thank you Xan - I think!

#32: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:56 pm

Lesley wrote:

Thank you Xan - I think!

*smiles seraphically* you're welcome Very Happy

#33: Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:14 pm

Being a 5'3" person I got a little worried there. Then I realised that Xan didn't know that, so I stopped. Hilarious. JackieJ

#34: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:18 pm

Lol! thanks for providing me with lots of laughs

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

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:41 pm

Slightly perturbed that as an over-thirty, I am classed as a 'senior' Shocked

I'm not sure I ever quite got past 'troublesome middle' Very Happy

ETA: thankyou Xanthe, this is hilarious!

#36: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:58 pm

Xanthe wrote:

Rosie wrote:

Xanthe! Would you believe my French grammar assignment this week is to answer such questions as 'have you ever started a fire?' *keels over giggling*

really?

Yes, really! At least, that's what I translated it as..... Oh, and also " What random phrases occur in a banal conversation?" - I think 'Have you seen Maud lately?' is random.... Xanthe, my love, I hope you realise what a strain it is not to laugh out loud at this!! I nearly exploded at the duvet part!!!!! Oh and Chloe and ther Starburst...

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

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:34 am

Thanks Xanthe I love the purple shimmery lockers - an excellent idea - I hope they get left that way. Do we get an explanation of the golden syrup incident? Is it similar to the Jack & co one? (seems a bit tame for this crowd though!) Liz

#38: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:26 pm

Rosie wrote:

Xanthe, my love, I hope you realise what a strain it is not to laugh out loud at this!! I nearly exploded at the duvet part!!!!! Oh and Chloe and ther Starburst...

Please do not explode. Think of the mess. And then you couldn't come and climb/go-kart/trampoline in March...

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:01 am

Oh Xan!!! You are a darling!!! This has really cheered me up, and I was feeling EXTREMELY pissed off!!! *hugs Xan gratefully!!!*

#40: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:29 pm

Vikki, you are most welcome Very Happy

(And I am feeling ROUGH again, so the inspiration/inclination to write silly CS might return...)

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:33 pm

Dilemma: Hope Xanthe feels better soon or Hope she gets inspired to write more Can I opt for both? Liz *sending hot toddies*

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:34 pm

I'm sorry you're feeling rough again hunny! (although more of this or similar would be wonderful!!!)

#43: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:32 am

Hope you are feelinng better Xan, but more please.

#44: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:05 am

Whilst not really wanting Xan to be ill, I would very much like MORE of this... so if the germs see fit, may we have some? Laughing

#45: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:56 am

I am afraid the germs have currently been Press-Ganged into helping the essay bunnies... *sigh*

#46: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:48 pm

so you might be writing some "interesting" essays if this drabble is anything to go by?

#47: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:55 pm

Miss Annersley was sitting at her desk going through some papers when she heard the light tap on her door, heralding the arrival of the small sinner she had summoned. Shuffling the cuttings from "Heat" to the bottom of a pile of letters from parents, she looked up and called "herein".

A girl shuffled into the room, looking mutinous. Miss Annersley looked at her shrewdly. "Don't shut the door please Carolyn-Margot, and whatever you do, don't come and sit down." The door slammed, and Carolyn-Margot deposited herself in the seat opposite the Headmistress. This was going to be a challenging interview.

Glancing at the list before her, Miss Annersley began to enumerate Carolyn's crimes. Amongst other things, she had touched ALL the exhibits in the Sally Denny Museum, she had mercilessly tickled several of the Juniors, and she had eaten ALL of her sweets for the whole term in one (very determined) effort. Worse still, the rest of the school seemed to have been infected by her. Carolyn had given away her pocket money, her books, and even her hankies, because people had told her not to. She had also yodelled in her bath, danced on the table at Abendessen, and poked at 74 different things with a stick.

True to form, Miss Annersley remonstrated gently with the girl, who, not being a spineless jellyfish, did not wibble, much less eeble, at this treatment. As Carolyn bobbed her curtsey at the door, a smile curved on Miss Annersley's lips. "And Carolyn-Margot," she said "please DON'T throw a bookend at Mary-Lou"...

#48: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:04 pm

*laughs out loud at the last sentence!* Thanks Xanthe!!!!!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:09 pm

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :alien: :alien: :alien: :jump: :jump: :jump: :red: :red: :red: ROFL

Glad to have given you some inspiration Xan! Must remember the dangers of msn convs. Laughing

That last sentence is so well chosen considering the care Hilda took with her words earlier in the interview, and I like the sneaky ref to Heat.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:16 pm

*giggles!!!* That's wonderful Xan!!! Thank you!!!!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:18 pm

Wonderful!!!! Wicked Hilda and wickeder Xan! Laughing

#52: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:20 pm

brilliant! loved Hilda's sneaky reading of Heat!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 10:27 pm

Marvellous! What's Hilda going to do with the cuttings from Heat?

#54: Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:19 pm

Lyanne wrote:

Marvellous! What's Hilda going to do with the cuttings from Heat?

*shoos away the bunny*

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

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:46 pm

*gives bunny some carrots and sends it back to Xanthe* Loved the list of crimes and the last request! ROFL

Liz

#56: Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:02 am

That last line was fabulous Xanthe! Laughing

In fact, all of it is fab! Smile

Thank you very much - is any chance of you continuing? Twisted Evil

#57: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:10 am

Ooh Xan that last line was wonderful Just the thing to send me off to bed happy. Thank you so much.

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