The CBB :: View topic - Abby Challenges the Chalet School

#1: Abby Challenges the Chalet School Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:49 pm

As promised before the hols, the sequel to 'I lift my eyes up' lurking somewhere in the murky depths of C&D if you care to read it for background.

The first day of term at the Chalet School was always somewhat chaotic and this one proved to be no different. Seated at her desk in her study Nancy Wilmot watched an endless stream of faces come and report their arrival to her, but this term there was a new one of particular interest to her. She glanced up at the clock as one of the second form left her study having reported, it was still too early for the coaches to have arrived from Exeter station, those who had already arrived were those who had been brought by parents. Nancy had just enough time to catch her breath before there was another knock at the door.

In the back of her father’s car Abby Fenchurch listened to the eager chatter of her friend Livia Warrington with half an ear. In a way she was glad that she was starting a new school with someone she already knew to give her a hand but that wasn’t stopping the knot of nerves in her stomach. She and her father had stayed with the Warrington’s the previous evening so Abby and Livia could travel to school together, now Abby wasn’t so sure it had been a good idea and wondered if she’d have been better off on the train and getting the coach from Exeter, at least that way she would have had the chance to get to know a few more people before arriving.

Kathie Ferrars had found over the years that the first day of term never got any easier. She’d excused herself from dealing with the girls en masse and had hidden away in the staff room checking over supplies lists.

“Think you’ve got the right idea there Kathie,” said a voice over the top of Kathie’s list.

Kathie looked up and saw the young English mistress, Colleen Winters, known to all and sundry as Coll, whirling about the staff room clearly looking for something. Coll had arrived at the Chalet School the previous year straight from college and had instantly become a favourite with the girls and staff alike with her bubbly and happy personality Kathie smiled.

“Somebody has to do the boring jobs around here,” she said. “I take it that it’s chaos out there.”
Coll nodded, her short brown curls bobbing about her face. “And the coaches haven’t even arrived yet,” she added emphatically.
“I thought you were on escort.”
“Me? Goodness no, thankfully, not this time. Ju and Webb have gone, and… didn’t you write the list anyway Kath?”
Kathie flinched at that particular short form of her name there had only been one person in her life who’d been allowed to call her that. “Yes I did,” she replied shortly. “Did you want something Coll?”
Coll grabbed a pile of papers from one of the shelves. “Yes, this, dormitory lists,” she said quickly before rushing out of the room.

Last edited by pim on Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:34 am; edited 48 times in total

#2: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:52 pm

Hooray! Abby's back. thank you Pim.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:55 pm

Quote:

Kathie flinched at that particular short form of her name there had only been one person in her life who’d been allowed to call her that.

Me being stupid, I expect, but who had been allowed to call her Kath?

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

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:00 pm

Yay Abby is back!!! Curious stuff about Kathie and a great title!!!

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

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:11 pm

Good to see this restarting, thanks Pim, just what I needed on my first day back at work. Smile

#6: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:23 pm

Thank you hunny! Kiss

Like the beginning VERY much Very Happy

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

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:27 pm

Also curious about the 'Kath' bit. Good to see this Pim - thank you. Laughing

#8: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:40 am

looking good! Very Happy

*joins crowds in wondering about the Kath thingy*

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:53 am

decides to wait patiently for the answer to the Kath mystery ok done the patience bit OY PIM!

#10: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:20 am

Good beginning Pim looking forward to hearing more about Abby and the school.

#11: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:52 am

Abby wasn’t too sure what to make of the Chalet School on her first glimpse of it, the old manor house with other buildings scattered about it, it was an awful lot different from her concrete eyesore state school. She was too lost in her own reminisces about her old school to hear Livia pointing out various parts of her new school to her. Abby shrank back in her seat realising only now just how real it all was as the niggling doubts bubbled up to the surface once more. Her farewell to her father was short and sweet before Livia grabbed her arm and dragged her up to the Head’s study to report their arrival.

On the Welsh border Jo Maynard’s thoughts turned, as they so often did, to the Chalet School as she wondered how the first day of term would be going. Her own granddaughters were now pupils at the school where she’d been the first all those years ago in the Austrian Tyrol. Her thoughts turned from them to another of the school’s ‘grandchildren’ as she wondered how Abby was getting along. At the same time another girl came into her thoughts, Megan Webb, the motherless girl who had made Abby’s own mother rethink the path her life had taken. Thinking through her granddaughters at the Chalet School, Jo remembered that Felicity’s eldest girl, Katy, would be in the same form as Abby. Had Felicity and her family not been spending the summer in Spain with her husband’s family she would have been able to introduce Katy to Abby, but it hadn’t happened in that way. Still, thought Jo to herself, at least Katy knew to look out for Abby and to help her out should she need it. Jo didn’t doubt that Abby’s time at the Chalet School would be as successful as her mother’s and that she would be able to challenge successfully anything that got in her way.

Nancy looked up at the clock once again, she’d lost track of the number of times she’d checked the time but it didn’t seem to be going any faster but at least the coaches were due soon and then things would get a bit easier. “Come in,” she called as there was yet another knock on the door.

“Don’t forget to curtsey when we go in, don’t question, just do it, it’s tradition,” muttered Livia to Abby as she opened the door and dragged her friend in behind her. “Good afternoon Miss Wilmot,” said Livia as the two of them bobbed clumsy curtsies.
Nancy smiled instantly recognising Livia’s companion. “Good afternoon Livia, Abigail,” she said crossing their names off the arrivals list. “Did you have a pleasant holiday Livia?”
“Very nice, thank you Miss Wilmot, mum sends her best wishes as well. She would have come up to say a quick hello only she had to get back because she left Alexis with Ruth. Not that she doesn’t trust Ruth in charge of the house or anything…” Livia tailed off and smiled as she caught the twinkle in Nancy’s eye. “Anyway, I’m here and Tacy and Cathlin are on their way up, I think Tacy had been mobbed by some of her own form.”
Nancy smiled again. “Three A for you Livia, but you knew that already.”
Livia beamed. “Yes I did, thank you Miss Wilmot, mum was really impressed with that since she’s forever reminding me that it was Ruth and Tacy who came off best for brains in the family.”
Nancy chuckled. “I think that’s all for now Livia, if you can just wait outside a moment whilst I sort Abigail out and then the two of you can run up to Matron and get sorted out there.”
“Okay then Miss Wilmot,” and with those words Livia bobbed another awkward curtsey and left the room. “Now then Abigail,” began Nancy.

Abby looked up from where she had been studying the carpet pattern with a start. She’d been completely lost in her own thoughts and concerns wondering how to deal with her new Headmistress. At her comprehensive school the Head had commanded a certain level of respect but Livia’s breezy manner here had thrown her and she wasn’t sure how to react now.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:36 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:17 am

Thank you Pim! Love the title and this is looking great. Joining those wondering about Kathie and hoping that Abby settles in ok and overcomes her trepidation...

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:30 am

Another excellent post - thank you.

#14: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:36 am

this looks like it's going to be really good looking forward to more and explanation of the 'Kath' comment thanks Pim

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:30 pm

Thank you Pim, this looks as if it's going to be as addictive as the first part. *Joins crowd wondering about 'Kath'* JackieJ

#16: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:34 pm

Thanks Pim. Poor Abby she must be really wondering what is going on. Glad she has Livia to look after her.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 6:06 pm

i like what i see of abby so far....but why is she going to be such a challenge? (that would be a subtle hint for more, pim)

#18: Author: Katie, Location: A Yorkshire lass in London

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:01 pm

Thank you Pim! Looking forward to seeing this unfold.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:46 pm

Yay!!!!! Pim has started Abby's sequel!!! *excited bounce!*

#20: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:07 am

Fab! Abby's back! Very Happy

thanks Pim!

#21: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:21 am

Nancy noticed the fleeting worried expression cross Abby’s face. “Abigail?”
“Abby,” muttered the name’s owner shyly, almost under her breath.
“Sorry?”
Abby looked up. “Abby,” she repeated. “I mean, I’m always known as Abby, with two b’s and a y. I don’t mean to be cheeky about it but dad always said that Abigail was too long for everyday use.”
Nancy smiled as she remembered that another father had once said that about his daughter. “He has a point, however Abigail is a nice enough name on its own.” Abby’s face fell and she went back to studying the carpet pattern. “But, since you already seem to have a bit of a reputation as Abby perhaps we’d best leave it at that.”
Abby smiled. “Thank you.”
“Now,” said Nancy as she shuffled through a pile of papers on the desk. “I’ve had a look through the work your old school sent me and I think we can quite happily put you in 3A along with Livia, and Katy Johnson,” Abby looked blankly at her. “Jo Maynard’s granddaughter,” Nancy qualified. “But about your languages, how much French and German do you have?”
“I’ve done two years of French, but it’s only very basic still, and I’ve done no German at all. I was meant to start that this year though.”
Nancy frowned. “I think we can timetable you down to 3B then for languages and we can fit in some extra coaching, but when you hear nothing but French and German around you, you’ll soon pick it up. And as for extras, clarinet and piano lessons will be arranged once we’re aware ourselves of teaching arrangements. Now I think that’s all we need to worry about for the moment, Livia should be waiting for you outside still and you can get sorted out with Matron.”
“Thank you Miss Wilmot.”
“And Abby,” Nancy said as Abby turned to leave. “It’s a pleasure to have finally met you, and I’m glad you felt that you could follow in your mother’s footsteps, it can’t have been an easy decision to make.” Abby smiled.
“No, it wasn’t, but I had some good pointers in the right direction.”
“If there’s ever anything you want to know about your mother, or if you ever want to talk about her, then my door is always open. And if I’m not around, then find Miss Ferrars and she will be just as happy to talk to you, or Miss Kennedy, my secretary, she was friends with your mother at school.”
“Thank you Miss Wilmot,” mumbled Abby gratefully.
“You’d best run along to Matron now.”

The next hour or so passed in a whirl for Abby as Livia whisked her through everything that she needed to know. They reported to Matron, discovered that they were in the same dormitory before heading there to discard their night cases and then heading to the cloakroom to get rid of their outdoor things. From there Livia dragged Abby through a maze of corridors that Abby was convinced she would never figure out for herself and then through a door which led into a large, light and airy room. The walls were painted white and lined with shelves which had name cards pinned to them. The wooden floor was covered by a few scattered rugs in various colours. Three big sofas were against each of the walls and sundry chairs, beanbags and cushions were scattered throughout the room. A record player sat in the corner with a box of records next to it and a box of magazines beside that.

“This is our common room,” announced Livia with a note of pride in her voice. “It’s for the third forms only and it’s so much nicer than the one we had in the second form last year. You’ve got a space on the bookshelves for your library books and what not. There’s a TV room down the corridor for us middles as well but no one really uses it.” Livia stopped suddenly aware that Abby was no longer by her side. Sure enough she found her crouched beside the box of records. “Not sure there’s anything you’d like in there,” commented Livia as she crossed the room.
Abby looked up her eyes shining. “Well it’s mostly pop rubbish,” she said ruefully. “But there is this,” she added lifting out a copy of London Calling by The Clash.
Livia stared at Abby momentarily. “You’re crackers…” She got no further as the door was flung open and her select band of miscreants tumbled in all talking at once.
“Livvie” one of them called over the Babel. “Where have you been?”

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:38 am; edited 1 time in total

#22: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:13 am

Quote:

Abby looked up her eyes shining. “Well it’s mostly pop rubbish,” she said ruefully. “But there is this,” she added lifting out a copy of London Calling by The Clash.

Shades of the challenge to come?! Laughing

Thanks Pim

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:46 am

Thank you Pim! Hope the challenge isn't too big!

#24: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:55 pm

Thank you Pim. Life seems to have changed a little at the school but not too much. Wondering how Abby is going to settle down.

#25: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:44 pm

Thank you Pim. Great as ever.

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 2:31 pm

Well if she likes 'London Calling' she has some taste, well done there Abby. Glad she stuck for herself about the name as well. Laughing

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 3:17 pm

why would Abby care about Jo Maynard's grand-daughter?!!! or even know who she was! soooooo EBD

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:16 pm

Excellent Pim - this is just sooooo good I'm just about to start some cleaning Evil or Very Mad

and I now know which CD I'm going to have on very loud eta whoops - just realised I have 1 hour to clean the whole house before the kids & C's girlfriend get home Shocked

- guess who's been spending too much time in C&D

#29: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 7:34 pm

Well Abby obviously does have good taste but I do wonder if ti mgiht be linked to the title. Plus I'm slightly worried what's going to happen if Jo's grand-daughter tries to "watch out" for Abby too much, never a good basis for friendship in my experience.

#30: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:08 pm

Thanks Pim. Is so nice to see this back! Very Happy

Really liking Abby so far, hope she gets on ok!

#31: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:22 pm

yay! loving this - thanks!

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:09 pm

'London Calling' - Excellent taste Abby -surprised to find it in the CS though! Thanks Pim.

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

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:31 pm

Yay!!!! Go Abby!! Thank you Pim!

#34: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:58 am

Livia held up her hand to stop the torrent of voices. “I’ve been here, I didn’t come on the train this year, mum drove Tacy, Cathlin and I down. And this,” she said gesturing at Abby. “Is Abby Fenchurch, she’s new, but her mum was friend’s with mine when they were at school here.”
“Are you Mary-Lou’s daughter then?” asked a voice from the back of the group as it’s owner, a small dark haired girl pushed her way through. Abby nodded. “Hi, I’m Katy Johnson, you know my gran, she told me about you, don’t worry. We would have met before but I was in Spain all summer staying with my grandma, my father’s mother.”
“Nice to meet you,” replied Abby realising that she’d heard about Katy already from both Jo and Livia.

Livia quickly introduced the rest of the group, whom Abby was to find out were also in the same dormitory and form as her. Red haired Scottish Jinny MacDonald was easy to remember, as was Jilly Wheeler, who was Jinny’s best friend, since they were hardly ever apart. Anya Martin was their dormitory monitor, small with long black hair in a plait down her back, her mother was Russian and her father English. Cari Parker was half Turkish on her mother’s side but had always lived in England, and Rhianna Sharples came from Wales.

“So we’re all in A then?” asked Livia as she finished the introductions. “And in Pansy dorm?” The others nodded. “Excellent, do you know who else is in A then?”
Katy nodded. “I peeked at the list on the door of Carnation,” she grinned. “There’s Coralie Barbier, Lara Davis, Madeleine Dupont, Iona Maine, Tansy Marchington, Freya Petersen, Heidi Richter and Emilia Thackery. So for a form we’re not a bad bunch really, but I think our dormy’s the best.”
“Tansy Marchington’s a bit of a know all,” grumbled Jinny. “Always thinks she’s better than the rest of us. And Iona Maine’s quite dull, I thought she’d be staying down in B again this year but obviously she managed to pull something off to make it up to A.”
“The rest of them are okay though,” interjected Jilly. “Lara and Emilia should sort them out and keep them in check, and hopefully those two can do something to bring Freya and Heidi out of their shells. Those two have been at this school too long to still be so quiet, it’s not natural.”
“And if Coralie and Madeleine would stop talking French for five minutes then we’d all be perfect,” grinned Livia irrepressibly. “I wonder where the Carnation crew are then? And everyone from B, it’s odd that it’s just us lot in here.”
“You don’t think they forgot we were in the third now and went back to the seconds common room, do you?” asked Katy a little cautiously. “I mean, we nearly went piling into there instead of here.”
“You moose,” retorted Livia. “You don’t get any better for keeping Katy Johnson.”
Katy smirked. “I take after my gran apparently. How was my gran when you saw her anyway Abby?”
Abby looked a little startled at being addressed so directly. “She was well,” began Abby.
“Good oh then,” replied Katy. “I expect I’ll see her soon anyway, I’ve never known her to keep away from the school for an entire term.”

Abby looked puzzled but had no chance to question Katy further as the door to the common room opened and the other members of her form began to arrive in groups. The chatter revolved principally around the summer holidays and Abby gradually learned which names belonged to which faces.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:40 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:04 am

Thanks Pim - nice scene - Laughing

at comment about Joey from her granddaughter!

#36: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 2:38 am

Thank Pim, lovely interaction between the girls. Wonders if Jo spoils Katy a bit?

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

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 12:28 pm

Thank you Pim Very Happy

Really good to meet Abby's classmates. So in grand CS tradition Wink

who will be the enemy she makes, or have we not met her yet?

#38: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:25 am

Thanks Pim - I'm glad you've started to write this so quickly after finishing I Lift My Eyes Up. *also approves of Abby's taste in music*

#39: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:09 pm

The first day of term was always too long from the staff perspective and it was always a relief when it was over. As far as Nancy was concerned it hadn’t gone too badly, everybody had arrived and was sorted into forms and dormitories with no complications. The first assembly had gone well, the announcement of the prefects and the Head Girl had gone down well with the rest of the school. In fact, thought Nancy, as she switched off the light in her study to go to the staff room, it had gone a little too well, she was sure that it wasn’t meant to go quite so well but harboured the secret hope that she had done every term that maybe this time they would survive until the holidays with no disasters. Nancy knew that expecting a smooth and peaceful term was perhaps a little too much to ask. She had hoped that moving back to England from the Alps would have lessened the school’s incredible ability to attract disaster but it hadn’t been so.

Entering the staff room Nancy was greeted by a torrent of welcoming voices and a chair was pushed in her general direction. Aside from herself and Kathie there were very few who left from the early days in Switzerland, most of the current staff having joined the school when they moved back to England. She waved to Davida Armitage the science mistress who was engaged in an animated discussion with her fellow scientist Ju Rawling and Lucy Webber, known more commonly as Webb, who taught mathematics. She scanned the room to see who else was there and quickly spotted Sharlie Andrews, or Sharlie Fernley to give her married name, and crossed the room to join her and a group of younger mistresses.

“Seen Kathie?” she asked Sharlie under her breath, pretending to be engrossed in the tale Coll Winters was relating to the rest of the group.
“Not since Abendessen,” replied Sharlie. “I assumed she’d gone to see you.”
Nancy shook her head. “I’ve not seen her all day, except for meals and she was being unnaturally quiet.”
“She’s probably in her room,” said Sharlie.
“I’ll go and have a look for her in a bit then.”

Nancy tried to push her concerns to the back of her mind and concentrate on the conversation she had just walked into, but she couldn’t help worrying about her friend. The last few weeks had been the usual rush and stress in the build up to the start of term on top of Kathie’s seemingly unnecessary worries about Abby, not to mention the fact that the start of winter term was always hard for her. It had been four years, Nancy realised, but she supposed that living with something like that never got any easier.

“Don’t you think Nancy?” Coll’s voice cut through Nancy’s thoughts.
“Think what, sorry?” she asked.
“That we should paint the staff room lime green with a pink border,” replied Coll her face deadly serious but there was a twinkle in her eye.
“I… um…” Nancy was temporarily at a loss for words until the others burst out laughing at her and she remembered that Coll could make the most outrageous and blatantly untrue statements with an air of serenity and honesty about her. Nancy grinned. “Sorry, I really wasn’t listening,” she said apologetically. “I had other things on my mind.”
“It has been a long day,” put in Sharlie sympathetically knowing what had been on Nancy’s mind.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:41 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:16 pm

So glad to see this has started already. Thanks Pim. Wondering what happened 4 years ago and if it's something to do with the only person who can call Kathie Kath? Also wondering what disasters the school is about to attract. Also wondering lots more things and hoping to find out soon... Laughing

Liz

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

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:35 pm

Hmmm, echoes all that Liz has said really - what happened four years ago????? NB Nice to see Sharlie married but still teaching. Thanks Pim.

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

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 4:08 pm

Quote:

Sharlie Andrews, or Sharlie Fernley to give her married name

So, will this link into Pim's drabble?

#43: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 5:33 pm

Who is Miss kennedy OOAOML's freind?( probably being thick here but I can't place the name) Tansy Marchington to be the enemy?

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

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 5:36 pm

That would be Clare Kennedy wouldn't it, the Irish girl with the nunlike face (so obviously very mischevious!) Nice to see some more, but still intrigued about the Kath thing. JackieJ

#45: Author: Alex, Location: Hunts, UK

Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:40 pm

But you've got to feel sorry for Tansy Marchington for having such a ridiculous name.

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

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:11 am

I used to have a cat called Tansy..... it's ruined the name for me

#47: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:42 am

Curioser and curioser...*wonders what's going on with Kathie/Kath*Thanks Pim, two lovely updates since I last looked. So good to have this back Very Happy

#48: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:00 am

Lyanne wrote:

Quote:

Sharlie Andrews, or Sharlie Fernley to give her married name

So, will this link into Pim's drabble?

In a word, no - I couldnt cope with having my characters wandering off into different drabbles ) And Miss Kennedy is Clare Kennedy for whoever was asking

The Pansy dormitory was chaos when bed time rolled around, despite the fact that its inmates had only unpacked their nightcases under the careful supervision of Matron a number of things had turned up in the wrong places.

“I can’t believe I’d have been so daft!” exclaimed Livia as she wriggled under her bed to pick up her hairbrush.
“It must have fallen off your drawers,” replied Katy. “Oh, Rhianna, your spongebag is in my cubicle for some reason.”
“Oh good,” replied Rhianna catching the offending article as Katy tossed it across the dormitory.
“Nobody would be stupid enough to be playing mad pranks this early on in term, would they,” mused Jinny as she combed her hair in front of her mirror.
“You’d have thought not,” came Anya’s voice as she poked her head through the curtains to her cubicle. “I’m telling you something though, I’m glad there’s no sign of Matron doing the rounds or we’d be in for it.”
Katy sighed heartily from her own cubicle. “I just don’t understand it. Livia and Abby unpacked their stuff before the rest of us arrived but Livia’s things seem to be just as messed up as ours.”
“Why not mine then?” asked Abby.
“You’re a new girl, no one in their right mind would do something like that to a new girl on her first day.”
“Anybody seen my pyjamas?” asked Jinny suddenly. “They’re the only thing I’ve got missing now.”

A general agreement came from the others that they now had all their things in their rightful places.

“Your pyjamas?” asked Jilly incredulously. “How could you lose something like that?”
“I don’t know!” exclaimed Jinny. “But I put them on my bed when I unpacked, and Matron saw me,” she added for emphasis. One by one the others agreed that they didn’t have Jinny’s pyjamas in their cubicle. “This is most unusual.”

There was a sharp tap on the door and Lara Davis crept in carrying a pair of pyjamas.

“Jinny, you fool, your pyjamas were in my cubey, how on earth did you get them there?”
“Absolutely no idea,” groaned Jinny taking them from Lara. “But I wish I knew who’d done it ‘cause I’d like to wring their neck!”
Anya appeared from between her curtains in her pyjamas. “Really Jinny,” she said. “Do you not think that’s taking it to extremes…” she broke off on hearing sniggering from Katy’s cubicle. “Katy Johnson!” she exclaimed pulling Katy’s curtains open. “I do believe it was you!”
Katy sat up on her bed grinning broadly at her dormitory. “You have to admit, it was funny seeing you lot think you’d gone mad.” She got no further in her explanations before her friends leapt on her attacking with their pillows. Katy pushed them away laughing. “Don’t be idiots, I know Matron’s not been yet but do you want to risk her wrath on the first night?” Silence greeted her in reply. “I thought not. Look I’m sorry, it was a silly joke but we really should be going to bed, and Lara you should be back in your own dorm!”

From outside of the dormitory there was a familiar step approaching in the corridor and Lara fled from Pansy back to Carnation. As she snuggled down to her first night in Pansy dormitory, Abby decided that life at the Chalet School probably wouldn’t be that bad after all. She was too tired to stay awake and think any longer and sleep came easily to her for the first time in weeks

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:43 am; edited 1 time in total

#49: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:50 am

a very CS prank! Joey would be proud! Thanks Pim Very Happy

#50: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:49 pm

Hmm. Why do I get a sense that Katy is going to be slightly hostile to Abby (or vice versa) in books to come... ? Thanks Pim! Smile

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

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:15 pm

Thank you Pim Very Happy

Seems like Katy has inherited some of her grandmothers mischief, excellent!!

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

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:02 pm

Wonderful Pimmy! Thank you!

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

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:58 pm

Thanks Pim Liz

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

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:04 pm

Lovely! Katy's definately Joey's grand-daughter!

#55: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:51 pm

Thank you honey! VERY intrigued to see what's the matter with Kathie... Sad

#56: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:39 am

Humph, to say originally Kathie was only going to be a background character she just marched right on in here and appears to have taken over somewhat. I think it's Georgia's doing. And pedant pernickety note, Ivan is pronounced ee-van, with the /van/ really soft, you have to kind of swallow the syllable if you catch my drift. *not making much sense admittedly* Anyway, it's a softer sounding than i-van, according to my Russian studying friends anyway...

There was no reply when Nancy knocked gently on Kathie’s door later that evening when she’d managed to slip away from the staff room the lack of response didn’t deter her and she pushed the door open anyway. Noticing her friend’s form in the doorway Kathie pushed the photograph frame face down on her desk hoping Nancy hadn’t noticed, but she had. Nancy crossed over to sit beside her and lifted the frame from the desk, it was the picture she’d thought it was – Kathie, the dark haired tall man and the young girl who so resembled her mother just a few short days before the tragedy that had changed everything.

“What was it this time?” Nancy asked softly slipping a comforting arm around Kathie and handing her a handkerchief.
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I was here.”
“Intuition,” replied Nancy with a grin. “You weren’t in the staff room so I took a lucky guess. Sharlie said you’d been quiet all day, I thought you might have been thinking about them. It’s been a while since you were like this.”
“It never gets any easier,” said Kathie taking the frame from Nancy. “It dulls and then you think it might, but it never goes away. Marcie would be thirteen now, she’d be in the third with Abby and Livia and Katy. It was silly, I was fine until Coll called me Kath. I know she didn’t mean any harm in it, she just never thinks before she speaks sometimes but then again I can hardly expect her to know that only Ivan ever called me Kath. It’s always the little things that set me off like that. After they died I couldn’t bear to hear a car engine being turned on, or hearing the telephone ring in your study.”

Nancy shuddered as she remembered the phone call that Kathie had received four years ago, on the first day of winter term telling her that Marcie and Ivan had been involved in a road accident.

“There are times when it doesn’t feel like four years, it seems like weeks, other times, it feels like an eternity,” said Kathie staring at the picture before putting it back on the bedside table. “Some days they don’t cross my mind at all, as though it never happened, but then I remember that it did happen, they were real, they were my family.”

Don’t you ever think that I don’t love you, for one minute I forgot you, but sometimes things don’t work out right and you just have to say goodbye.

Kathie and Nancy stayed up talking long into the night about Ivan and Marcie. Ivan had been a visiting doctor to the Swiss San in 1969, thinking about taking up a job offer there when he’d met Kathie who had made up his mind for him. They had married after a whirlwind romance in March 1970 much to everyone’s delight. By this time both the San and the school were beginning to decline in need as the fight against TB was being won, Ivan’s post was a research one and Kathie had declared that being a married woman wouldn’t stop her from teaching. Their happiness had been completed in February 1971 with the arrival of their unexpected daughter, Marcelia. Too much for everyday use, Ivan had told Nancy when she’d first been to visit, she’ll be Marcie for that. Motherhood, like marriage, hadn’t put a stop to Kathie’s involvement with the school as she’d recognised the rapidly changing situation on the Gornetz Platz needed stability in its leadership. Kathie and Marcie had moved back to England with the school in 1974, Ivan following a year later having sorted out the necessary paperwork and taken up a consultancy position in an Exeter hospital. On the first day of the winter term in 1980 Ivan had been driving Marcie to her primary school in the nearest village before going to work when the accident had happened, Marcie had died instantly and Ivan of his injuries later that day in hospital. It had been four years, but it never got any easier.

Nancy awoke early with a sudden pain in her neck. She shifted uneasily, a little disorientated, before realising that she hadn’t fallen asleep in her own bed but in a sitting position on Kathie’s bed. She glanced down at her friend, her face still streaked with tears leaning against her shoulder and remembered what they’d been talking about the previous evening. Realising that her arm had gone numb Nancy shook Kathie awake before slipping back to her own room. It was 5am as she sank into her own bed wondering how she’d make it through the rest of the day without needing to sleep

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:44 am; edited 1 time in total

#57: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:57 am

Shows how much I've been influenced by Alternative Romance that I completely wasn't expecting that. Poor Kathie, glad Nancy was there for her

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

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:35 pm

*sniffs* that was so sad Pim!! Poor Kathie. If its Georgia's fault Kathie has marched in, then I quite like her now!!! Wink

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

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:40 pm

Poor Kathie. I'm glad she's got Nancy there to look after her. Thank you Pim (and Georgia!!!)

#60: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:02 pm

Poor Kathie Crying or Very sad

#61: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:15 pm

That's so sad! Poor Kathie.

#62: Author: Georgia, Location: my imagination

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:24 pm

*takes a bow* Mwahwahwah, Pim see how much you need me!!

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

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:59 pm

((((Kathie)))) so glad Nancy was there for her Crying or Very sad

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

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:51 pm

How sad.

And here's another totally influenced by Alt Rom. Glad Kathie has such a good friend in Nancy.

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

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:42 pm

Awwww! poor Kathie!!!! Crying or Very sad

#66: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 11:33 pm

:crying: Poor, poor Kathie.

#67: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:44 am

Poor poor Kathie How horrible. Glad she has Nancy!

#68: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:09 am

The rising bell clanged throughout the school at seven, Abby sat up wildly in bed with a shake of her head wondering where she was before remembering. She felt as though she’d been asleep for a week, unable to remember the last time she’d slept that well. She rubbed her eyes furiously and took in the surroundings of her cubicle as a voice she recognised as Anya’s called ‘show a leg’ only a moment before Anya’s head appeared between her curtains.

“Good you’re up,” she said. “I had a horrible feeling I was going to have to set this lot on you to wake up.”
“Huh… what?” murmured Abby sleepily climbing out of bed.
“When I call show a leg, just stick one or the other of them between your cubey curtains to let me know you’re up in future, like this rotten lot.” Anya gestured at the array of legs poking out from between curtains.
Katy’s head promptly joined her leg. “Anybody know what the bath list is?”
“Don’t be so lazy Katy!” came from Jinny’s cubicle. “It’s on the back of the door, go and have a look yourself,” with that Jinny appeared from her cubicle in her dressing gown with a towel and sponge bag. “I’m first in number seven and I think Livia’s first in eight.”
“I am!” called Livia as she appeared from her cubicle and left the dormitory with Jinny.
Anya pulled the list down. “Katy you’re after Jinny in seven, then Abby, then me. Jilly, Cari and Rhianna are for eight after Katy, Jilly you’d best be ready to make sure Livia’s not in the bathroom all morning!”
“No problem,” replied Jilly with a giggle at Abby’s puzzled expression. “You see Abby, it’s such a scram here in the morning we’re only allowed seven minutes each in the bathroom to have a quick shower and wash. You’d be best off making your bed whilst you’re waiting for the bathroom or on your head be it!” and with that parting shot Jilly dived back into her own cubicle.

Abby looked at her bed with an expression of despair since bed making had never been her forte but she set about it with a grim determination and it was resembling something like made when Katy whirled back into the dormitory and shouted to her that she had finished in the bathroom. Grabbing her towels and sponge bag Abby followed Cari down the corridor to the bathroom where she had a quick shower and wash and cleaned her teeth. At five to eight they were all lined up and ready to head down to breakfast. Abby felt a little uncomfortable in her new uniform which had a tendency to be a bit itchy but she liked it much more than the one she’d had at her old comprehensive.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:45 am; edited 1 time in total

#69: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 10:33 am

Oh my gosh, seven minutes in the bathroom... I take like thirty-seven.... Smile

Thanks Pimmy! Smile

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

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:11 am

*echoes Kate* seven minutes!!!!!! glad Abby's managing though

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

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:55 am

Well I managed it in eight this morning...but not sure I'd like to every day! Thank you Pim!

#72: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:08 pm

Er.. I think my fastest ever is about 16! But would they be washing their hair? Because if not then I could take off about 10 mins.. Very Happy

Thanks Pim!

#73: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:15 pm

Thanks Pim. Seven minutes in the bathroom! I can do that if I don't have a shower and wash my hair, if I do it's about 15 - 20.

#74: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 2:47 pm

I'd never be able to manage 7 mins in the bathroom! Shocked

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

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:27 pm

Nell wrote:

Well I managed it in eight this morning...but not sure I'd like to every day!

That included showering and washing my hair!

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

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 7:32 pm

Thanks Pim.

#77: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:51 pm

I got up, dressed and washed (not my hair!) and put my eyes in in 4 mins yesterday! Very Happy

#78: Author: ravenseyes, Location: New Zealand

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 11:36 pm

"put your eyes in" Shocked

The mental picture of two eyeballs in a glass on the bedside table is worrying.

#79: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:09 am

Ally...

Over breakfast, at which she found herself squashed at the long table between Rhianna and Katy, Abby had several items of interest pointed out to her about the life of the school. Between mouthfuls of cereal Livia, sitting opposite, was doing her best to give a run down of the entire teaching body of the school, with supplementary information added by Katy and the occasional shyly added comment from Rhianna.

“That one on the end, the left,” said Katy waving her hand in the general direction of Coll Winters. “That’s Miss Winters, she was form mistress for 3A last year so hopefully she’ll be ours this year. She teaches English and she’s really cool.”

Abby raised an eyebrow, the last adjective she would have ever used to describe her teachers at her comprehensive would have been ‘cool’.

“Miss Wilmot you know” put in Livia. “Next to her, on the right, that’s Miss Ferrars, Ferry. She’s been here for years and years, nearly as long as Miss Wilmot. She’s maths and geography, hopefully she’ll be teaching us as well. She’s lovely, but you have to watch her, she can switch just like that,” Livia clicked her fingers in demonstration and Abby’s eyes widened in response.
“She did have a tough deal though, Ferry,” muttered Rhianna.
Katy stared glumly into middle distance for a moment. “True, it can’t be easy losing your husband and daughter in one fell swoop.”
“Road accident, four years ago,” said Livia in response to Abby’s puzzled look. “It was such a shame. Marcie, her daughter, was the same age as us, she was pretty cool, Katy and I knew her quite well.”
“That’s Miss Andrews, on the other side of Ferry,” said Rhianna suddenly breaking the wistful silence between Livia and Katy. “She’s really Mrs Fernley out of school but apparently when she first got married no one could remember that and so she stuck with her maiden name. She teaches English to the younger ones, those in the junior school and some to the firsts and seconds. She taught us in the first form, she’s lovely, really sweet.”
“And that’s Miss Rawling and Miss Webber sitting next to Miss Winters,” said Katy suddenly. “Miss Rawling teaches science, and Miss Webber teaches maths, they’re both really good fun in and out of school.”
“Do you remember the time that Miss Rawling blew up that chemmy experiment in her face?” asked Jinny, who was sitting beside Livia, suddenly and the others snickered in response.
“As if we could forget,” grinned Katy. “She had no eyebrows for weeks as a result! They just wouldn’t grow back, of course they did eventually, but she did look a sight until they did.”

They spent the rest of breakfast chatting eagerly and had to be hurried to finish by the prefect in charge of their table, a girl with a rather haughty manner who Abby later discovered to be called Creseldine Price-Morris.

“What denomination?” hissed Livia as they lined up to leave the dining room.
“What?” replied Abby.
“Church,” she qualified.
“Oh I don’t” said Abby quietly.
“Well you’ll have to here, for prayers you know. We stopped having them on the first night the year that Ferry’s husband and daughter died, and have them first morning instead.”
“I don’t go to church.”
“Well were you baptised? I suppose you’ll go to that one.”
“Church of England,” replied Abby quickly as Creseldine threw them a filthy look.
“You’ll go to Protestant prayers with most of us then,” Livia frowned. “This sort of thing normally gets sorted out when you report, but never mind I guess Miss Wilmot was busy and forgot. Katy and Rhianna are Catholic, watch out here come the Prees.”

They both fell silent as their line moved out of the dining room and in the direction of prayers.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:47 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:22 am

Me?? *whistles innocently* I'm a :angel: Thank you Pim, a lovely update Very Happy

#81: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:48 am

Thanks Pim, I wonder if Abby will try and get out of the religious side of the school.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:17 am

Thank you PIm. Love the comments on the staff! All remarkably nice it seems!

#83: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:37 am

ooh, is the snooty-looking girl with the outrageous name going to take an unreasonable hate to Abby? Hope not! and good scene setting introduction of the staff, thanks Pim

#84: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 12:22 pm

That's what I was wondering Robin! Nice name btw. Thanks Pim, lovely update.

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 4:45 pm

Thanks Pim, Wondering if, with Petal, Tamara and now Creseldine, we should just assume anyone with a double-barrelled surname is going to be evil? Liz

#86: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:14 pm

Creseldine is a rather amazing name, where did you find it pim? thanks for the update!

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:06 pm

Nell wrote:

Well I managed it in eight this morning...but not sure I'd like to every day!

That included showering and washing my hair!

6 mins this morning (inc hair) Only cos I was so tired I didn't want to get up and when I finally did I only had 10 minutes before I had to leave for a medical appointment Embarassed

Love the updates btw Pim Kiss

eta - wonder if Rachael is taking note of these times & will hold us to them at the Feb Gather Very Happy

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 8:33 pm

Thanks Pim - lovely descriptions of the Staff!

#89: Author: Alex, Location: Hunts, UK

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 8:48 pm

Pim I swear you make this names up and that no-one has ever been called any of them before! It takes me about 3 minutes just to brush my teeth!

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

Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:28 pm

Dawn wrote:

eta - wonder if Rachael is taking note of these times & will hold us to them at the Feb Gather Very Happy

DAWN!!!! For goodness sakes!!!! DON'T give her ideas!!!!!! Shocked

#91: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:08 am

Love the name and the update pim.

#92: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:31 am

I mean putting my contacts in! Wink

Great update - loving this drabble

#93: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:36 am

Alex wrote:

Pim I swear you make this names up and that no-one has ever been called any of them before!

I have a *very* useful source for this kind of thing... she knows who she is, and *I* know that she is plotting a mini-drabble about it. Twisted Evil

Abby couldn’t remember the last time that she’d been to church with the exception of Easter or Christmas and her mother’s funeral but she found prayers much less painful than she had expected. Assembly had followed prayers before they had all filed to their respective form rooms. She liked her form room instantly on sight, it was white like the common room but with maps and prints on the walls and the rows of desks all facing the blackboard. There was a notice board the length of the back wall with a piece of paper pinned to it bearing the words ‘3A’s work’ which Livia muttered was for their own work. Being the new girl in the form the other fifteen took their chosen places first and Abby found herself in the middle row between Rhianna and Lara Davis from Carnation dormitory. Emilia Thackery, Lara’s best friend, Jilly and Jinny made up the rest of the row. Livia, Katy , Anya and Cari all sat on the back row behind her with Iona Maine, whilst the front row was made up entirely of girls from Carnation – Coralie, Madeleine, Tansy, Freya and Heidi. Abby made a mental note of all the faces and the names that matched them for the Carnation crew, they weren’t too hard to differentiate.

The form were delighted to discover that their form mistress was indeed to be Miss Winters and Abby liked her instantly, largely because she was so different to any other teacher she’d ever had.

“I trust you all had good holidays girls,” she said smiling at the sixteen faces before her and taking the register from Tansy in the front row. “And that you’ve all come back refreshed and ready to work hard.” A groan of despair came from the back row and Coll chuckled. “Come on now Katy, Livia,” she said with a grin, “I’m expecting great things of you two this term.”

Katy and Livia rolled their eyes at each other, Coll caught it but decided to ignore them just this first morning as she opened the register and glanced at the names with the exception of Abby she had taught them all the previous year, which made her easy to spot amongst the faces as she ticked them off.

“Tansy, just run the register back to Miss Kennedy and then we can get down to important things.”

Tansy took the register from Coll’s outstretched hand and left the room as the class descended into a discussion about what had happened over their respective summers. Katy, as Abby already knew, had been in Spain staying with some relatives on her father’s side of the family, Cari had been back to Turkey for some of the holidays to see her mother’s family, Heidi had gone home to Germany, Freya home to Sweden and Coralie and Madeleine back to France. In addition Anya had been to Switzerland with her parents for a holiday. Abby felt too shy for the moment to plunge into the discussion and secretly relieved that nobody asked her directly about her own holidays and was able to relax when Tansy re-entered the room. Coll held up her hand to call for silence in the room and at once the chatter ceased.

“I’m sure you’re all keen to find out,” she began with a grin, “who your form prefect is.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Jinny MacDonald,” she announced as Jinny flushed the same colour as her red hair. “With Lara Davis as her second.”

It was Lara’s turn to flush a similar colour to Jinny. Sneaking a glance behind her Abby noticed Livia give Jinny the thumbs up and grin irrepressibly.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:49 am; edited 1 time in total

#94: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:42 am

Awww lovely! Wonder how long Abby's shyness will last though, she doesn't seem the type to be shy!

#95: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:35 pm

Thanks Pimminickers! Smile

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:39 pm

lovely to get to know the form that abby's in (((abby))) i hope they make her feel welcome and she's less shy soon!

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:09 pm

Lovely, thank you Pimaling!

#98: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:38 pm

yay! Love Abby! Very Happy

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:18 pm

Hope Abby doesn't find it too difficult, being the only new girl in the form. Thanks Pimberetta Very Happy

Liz

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:34 pm

Thank you Pim!!! may we have a bit more please?

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:10 pm

Is guilty as charged and just for Pim....... Ally sat and surveyed the ickle Pimmitypops who sat in a gloomy heap before her. ‘Why so sad Pimford’, she asked with only mild concern edging her voice. ‘Oh’ sniffled Pimoscope, ‘Woe has become me, tis such a dreadful thing. You see Charley presented me with a wonderful villain and she will cause much chaos, mayhem and destruction, but… oh, but… she has no name. Without a suitable name she will whither and die and her villianiness will be lost’. Pimoganes, suddenly stopped her sniffling, an added with a very fetching wicked look. ‘And that would be a mighty shame’. Ally agreed wholeheartedly, after all, she was a great fan of chaos, mayhem and destruction. ‘So you come to me for help then?’ She asked. Pimsparkly nodded lots. ‘Excellent!! Ally replied, barely suppressing the evil tone in her voice. ‘Xenophon bring me my *weapon*’. Pimpanther nearly ran and hid upon hearing that Xeno was nearby, but the sight of a four inch high bear carrying an enormous wooden box made her want to laugh so much, and so forgot to hide. Xeno took the box over to Ally and placed in on the desk. Suddenly it when very quiet and a chill wind blew through the room. Ally opened the box and revealed a bright glowing light ‘Ooooh shiny’ thought Pimagedine immediately, but then realised that what was going on probably was not a good thing. She watched strangely entranced as Ally started to mutter strange words at the box, before pulling out some slips of paper. ‘You are in luck.’ Ally spoke, and instantly to Pimmenthal, it seemed like the spell had been broken. ‘‘The Box Of Doom’ has given you both a first name and a surname. They must think this character has the potential to be particularly evil. Do not disappoint them. Now, do you have your offering.' Pimmerimpimp, hastily scrabbled around for her bag and produced a few sheets of slightly battered paper, which she duly handed over to Xeno, who brought them to Ally. ‘Ahhh the epilogue to Abby, excellent, that is excellent payment. Thank you, I shall enjoy this. Now for your names. Hmmm, Petal and Forbes-Buckingham. Interesting, well enjoy your gift.' With this and just a hint of a mwahwahwa St Pimdrews knew she was dismissed, and retreated as quickly as possible. And so it began. Pimsea, found she needed knew villains and so needed knew names and was rewarded with Creseldine and Pearline. As a consequence word spread of an amazing new source of names and not just only for villains. Ally lived a contented life being fed sneak previews of drabbles, and occasionally risking the wrath of Uto, but hey it was worth it!!! Of course not always the Box of Doom worked, sometimes, people’s needs were just too odd. However, on these occasions websites of trees and cocktails came in very handy. Sitting in her comfy chair Ally surveyed the CBB and giggled and turned to Xeno. ‘Why do they think we are so evil.’ Then she tossed the torch out of the box, noticed that the box was empty and so settled down to another day at work going through school log books and admission registers for a data protection survey, such interesting sources she worked with!

#102: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:13 pm

*has a mini gloat at having already read that* Thank you Allykins... I think your position at the top of the leader board is safe ) Kiss

Of course I may be forced to kill you yet... *begins sharpening knife in preparation for the FG*

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

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:47 pm

Thanks Pim.....and Ally Laughing

#104: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:29 pm

*plotting a suitable revenge on Ally...* )

As this scene was taking place Nancy Wilmot was ensconced in her study behind a pile of paper work when there was a soft tap at the door and Kathie entered quietly.

“Morning Nancy,” she said quietly peeking over her friend’s shoulder to see what the state of play was. “Invoices, lucky you.”
“Morning Kathie,” replied Nancy barely able to suppress the huge yawn that overtook her.
“Oh you poor thing!” exclaimed Kathie before her face fell. “Of course if you’d had a proper night’s sleep…” she tailed off and sat down.
“Kathie you goop, don’t worry about it. If I didn’t care I would have left you to your weeping alone.” Kathie managed a half smile. “I know how to choose my moments don’t I?”
“You certainly do, but stop worrying about it. Besides, if you’re here then you may as well give me a hand with these invoices, they’ll get done so much quicker with two brains rather than one.”
“Lucky me,” murmured Kathie.
“Yes indeed, lucky you, it’s your lucky day,” replied Nancy with a grin handing the pile of invoices over to Kathie, the previous night forgotten for the moment.

Silence reigned over the Warrington household and Vi was intent on taking advantage of the luxury. Alexis was at school and Ruth had gone out for the day to do some shopping to get things she needed for going back to Oxford. She indulged in a leisurely breakfast over the morning’s papers knowing full well that she had nothing pressing to be getting on with in her capacity as a freelance illustrator. That meant that she would be able to devote most of the day to cracking on with Mary-Lou’s papers as several more pieces had arrived from various friends in the morning’s post which she hadn’t looked at as yet. Robert crossed her mind fleetingly as she wondered how he was coping on his own without Abby, he’d left to go back to York as soon as they’d dropped the girls off hardly saying anything. She knew it couldn’t have been easy for him leaving her after all these years and made a mental note that she’d phone him that evening to see how he was getting on.

In a small Devon town, in a non-descript concrete block passing as a school one girl sat in her English class with her mind elsewhere. Megan Webb idly stared out of the window and doodled absent-mindedly on the corner of her exercise book, something she knew she wasn’t meant to do but she did anyway. She couldn’t concentrate on the class that morning, even though it was poetry, and not just any old poetry, it was her particular favourite The Lake Isle of Innisfree. Part of Megan’s thoughts were preoccupied with her grandmother who had been a bit under the weather the last few days, something which always worried her. She was afraid of losing her grandmother, of being left alone in the world for she was sure that if anything should happen then her father wouldn’t be interested. The other part of her thoughts were preoccupied by the mysterious Abby that Jo Maynard had told her about as Megan realised just how much meeting Mary-Lou had changed her life. She stopped chewing the end of her pen and began to compose a letter in the back of her jotter.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:50 am; edited 1 time in total

#105: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:27 pm

Ohhh I do hope Megan and Abby will meet at some point!

#106: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:17 pm

Thanks Pimdoodles. Smile

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

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:48 pm

Thanks Pimp and Circumstance! Laughing

#108: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 4:31 pm

pim wrote:

*has a mini gloat at having already read that*

Ditto

Thank you Ally - brilliant! Laughing

Kathie and Nancy are just too lovely in this - thank you Pimmy Kiss

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

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:24 pm

pim wrote:

*plotting a suitable revenge on Ally...*

What, again?? Wink

Thank you Pimporkpie

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

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:33 pm

Looking forward to seeing more about Mary-Lou in the stuff Vi's got. Hope Megan's teacher continues not to notice her inattention Thanks Pimpercalifragilisticexpilidicious Laughing

And thanks Ally Liz

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

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:48 pm

Thank you Pimento!!! That was lovely!

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

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 10:31 pm

Thank you Pimalarky, it is good to see more of this. I'm wondering how you are going to get Megan to the school, cos I'm sure they are going to meet somehow. Hope the bunny keeps on at this Pimpopade.

#113: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:51 pm

at Ally! Thanks for this Pim, lovely! Looking forward to seeing more Vi & Robert. Will we get any more of Mary-Lou's thoughts? Also wondering how Abby and Megan will meet...

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:02 am

Thanks pim! I really don't know how you manage to keep up with writing more than one drabble plus studying plus having a social life! You p'impress me! Wink

#115: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:54 am

Thanks Pim. The first day scene was good. Nice to see Kathy and Nancy working together again. Hope Megan does arrive at the school sometime.

#116: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 12:51 pm

Sophoife wrote:

Thanks pim! I really don't know how you manage to keep up with writing more than one drabble plus studying plus having a social life! You p'impress me! Wink

In fairness to me I've just had 2 1/2 weeks holiday! And I'm not back in class until the beginning of February. That aside there's early mornings and last thing at night for drabbling, and I'm a 'bite sized chunks' person as I have no concentration span!!!

Abby’s first morning in 3A passed in cheerful chaos with the arranging of timetables and collection of books and stationery from the big stationery cupboard supervised by Clare Kennedy, the school secretary, and the Prefects. Abby had been surprised when Miss Kennedy had recognised her instantly as being Mary-Lou’s daughter but then remembered that they had been friends at school. At lunch she found herself once more squashed between Rhianna and Katy who’d taken great glee in explaining the principle of being trilingual in the school.

“I wouldn’t worry about it though,” said Katy breezily. “It’s not too difficult to pick up.”
“Easy enough for you to say,” retorted Rhianna. “You were talking French and German before you were born, not to mention having Spanish thrown in, I bet you only learn English for fun in your family.”
Katy stuck her tongue out in reply to Rhianna. “Your French isn’t so dusty now.”
“No, but my German’s still dreadful since I just can’t get to grips with it. I’ll be taking German in 3B with you Abby so we can be dunces together.”
“Do you really speak no German?” asked Heidi shyly from the other side of Rhianna.
“Not a word,” replied Abby with a shake of her head realising that it was the first time Heidi had addressed her directly.
“Then I will help you,” announced Heidi in her own quiet manner as Abby smiled shyly in reply.
“What do you reckon they’ve got planned for us this afternoon?” mused Livia from the other side of the table.
Katy shrugged. “Not an earthly.”
“Don’t we have lessons?” asked Abby timidly.
“Goodness no!” exclaimed Katy. “Well, I mean, yes we do, but not proper lessons, we’ll just have some prep set for the classes we’d normally have this afternoon so we’re sorted for the next ones. That aside,” she broke off and turned her gaze to the window. “I wonder if we’ll have a walk, the weather seems nice enough.”
Lara, sitting beside Livia, shrugged. “It’d be nice if we did, but at the same time they may let us get some games practice in, you never know. It’s still fine enough for tennis.”
“Lara is the form tennis star,” explained Livia. “In fact she’s too good at all sports for her own good, puts the rest of us to shame, hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, athletics, and I bet you once we’re allowed to start lacrosse next year she’ll beat us all hollow at that.”
Lara blushed and aimed a friendly punch at Livia’s arm. “What about you Abby? How do you go in for sports?”
Abby shrugged. “I like them well enough, but I prefer football.”
“Really?” Lara’s eyes opened wide.
“I don’t play properly mind, just out in the street with the boys, that and cricket.”
“I’m sure they used to play cricket here,” put in Rhianna.
“They did,” replied Livia. “I think they stopped when the school moved back from Switzerland.”
“That would have been something, going to school in Switzerland,” said Lara. “We’d have got winter sporting in then as well.” The others grinned.
“Could you have imagined the journey to get there though?” added Rhianna. “It’d take days, it’s bad enough having to get down here.”
“True,” remarked Lara. “Would be something else though.”

Their chatter ceased as Nancy rang the bell on the table in front of her and announced, much to the joy of most the girls, that the afternoon would be occupied by walks once their preparation had been set.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:52 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:03 pm

Thanks Pim - love the comment that Katy knew French and German before she was born and only learned English for fun! Wonder what would have happened if one of theMaynard clan had turned out to be a complete dunce at languages?

#118: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:24 pm

Thanks Pim-diddly-im-im-im. Smile

I always liked Clare Kennedy... will we get more of her? Smile

#119: Author: Laura, Location: London (ish)

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 1:49 pm

Thanks Pim! Slightly lost, though - so where is the school now again?!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 3:30 pm

Thank you Pimagator, good to see schoolgirl chatter!!

#121: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:41 pm

Thanks Pim, that was great Very Happy

Glad Abby seems to be settling in - so far...

#122: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 4:43 pm

yay! Good for Abby!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 5:26 pm

Wonderful! Thank you Tiddley-Pim Tiddley-Pom!!!

#124: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:33 pm

Liked the girls reactions to Abby playing football!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:42 pm

ooooh - i go away for 2 days and i get lots of lovely updates! thanks pim!

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:58 pm

Yes, most girls only tend to get the chance to play cricket in school if they happen to have a female P.E. teacher who plays cricket herself... and although the number of women's teams around is increasing again, that's still not too common. Very few of the Warwickshire county girls, for instance, play much if at all at school - most of their cricket happens with separate clubs. So the CS may well have stopped simply through lack of available competition!Be that as it may, I'm really enjoying this, Pim, so any time you feel like posting some more... Very Happy

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

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 10:12 pm

Oh. I guess because I've seen women's cricket developing here - started with clubs and now the schools are more involved, right down to the under-12s - I assumed (yes, ass-you-me) it would be played in schools in the UK...I must say though that the schools that play it here are either co-ed or the hugely competitive (we must win everysing at all costs) type. In fact the co-ed schools seem to promote it more even than the hugely competitive one...the boys are quite happy to help the girls with skill development.

#128: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:45 am

I played cricket ONCE in five years of compulsory PE, and was almightily peeved by this I hasten to add! It wasn't my fault the rest of my class were wimps and terrified of the ball. I had to make up for it by some extraordinary fielding exploits in rounders... not *quite* the same thing *le shrug* Out of school I was like Abby, the girl playing football, cricket or whatever else we had equipment of vaguely the right classification for in the street.

The Chalet girls were still out on their respective walks when Megan returned to her grandmother’s that afternoon after school to the now sadly familiar sight of the local doctor’s car parked outside. Pushing open the door with a feeling of rising panic she was greeted by a frantic looking neighbour, Mrs Purves, who normally Megan only regarded as a local busybody always poking her nose into other people’s business where it wasn’t wanted. However, for the first time she was glad to see her, if only because it meant that her grandmother wasn’t, or hadn’t been, alone.

“What’s happening?” she asked.
“Oh Megan,” exclaimed Mrs Purves. “Your grandmother’s had a fall, the doctor’s with her now.”
“Will she have to go to hospital again?” asked Megan quietly, knowing full well that if it came to that she’d be farmed out to whichever neighbour waved their hand first.
“Oh well I wouldn’t be knowing that,” said Mrs Purves. “I daresay Dr Morgan will let you know.”
As if on cue, Dr Morgan the affable doctor with the fuzzy grey hair and beard who had known Megan since she was a baby appeared. “Hello there Megan,” he said with a smile. “We were just wondering when you’d be getting back from school.”
“What’s happening Dr Morgan?” “Well now, your grandmother just had a little fall on the stairs, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about but I’d like to get her to the hospital just to check her out to be on the safe side.” Megan paled at the mention of the hospital, the same one where her mother had died. “I’ve called for an ambulance but if they want to keep her in do you have somewhere to stay?”
“Oh she can stay with me, no bother,” said Mrs Purves leaping into the breach and ignoring the fact that Megan’s face fell at his. “It’s not a problem, she’s good as gold young Megan.”
“Can I go to the hospital with her Dr Morgan?” asked Megan anxiously.
“Can you now, Megan? Well of course you can, but the question is may you…” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Don’t tease so Dr Morgan!”
“Of course you can, Mrs Purves you’ll be able to bring Megan back from the hospital, won’t you?”
“No problem Dr Morgan.”

Megan squirmed in the uncomfortable plastic chairs of the hospital casualty department anxiously awaiting news of her grandmother who had been taken away for x-rays. Mrs Purves had gone to the hospital canteen to get a cup of tea and try and find a magazine of some description to pass the time so Megan was taking advantage of the peace whilst it lasted. She was grateful to Mrs Purves for having been there for her grandmother earlier that afternoon and for offering to take her in should she need it, but at the same time she had a natural aversion to the local gossipmongers.

“Megan?” Megan glanced up into the face of the young nurse who had taken her grandmother up to have the x-rays done a short while ago. “Megan, this is Dr Willis, he needs to talk to you about your grandmother. What happened to the lady who came in with you?”
“She just…” began Megan, breaking off as Mrs Purves appeared with a plastic cup in one hand and a magazine in the other. “She’s here.”

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:54 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:51 am

Poor Megan. Crying or Very sad

You seem to have got to sad bits in both of your drabbles Pimtissue. Hope Megan's Gran is ok.

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

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:57 am

What a horrible thing - poor Megan, only her grandmother to look after her or she has to stay with neighbours. Thanks Pimnut.

#131: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:14 am

Poor Megan. Sad

#132: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:46 pm

wow, lots of lovely posts over the weekend, thanks Pim hope things are ok with Megans granny

#133: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:12 pm

Please let Megan's Gran be ok!

#134: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 2:15 pm

Thanks Piminbula. *wibbles* Poor Megan. Sad

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

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:00 pm

*wibbles for Megan* Thank you Pimpty dumpty!

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

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 4:40 pm

*joins the wibbling*i do hope megan's gran is ok!

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

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:43 pm

Thanks Pimda Rosa Hope Megan's grandmother is soon well enough to return home. Liz

#138: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:14 am

Thanks Pim. Hope Megan's gran is OK but I have a nasty feeling she won't be!

#139: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:34 am

Early morning drabbling sessions are back having discovered that I'd run out of what I'd written over the holidays...

The Chalet girls had since returned from their walks and the two third forms had descended upon their common room. Abby found herself piled on to one of the sofas with Rhianna, Katy, Jinny, Jilly and Lara Livia had gone to have a shower and wash her hair explaining to Abby that time restrictions on the bathrooms in the morning meant that they could make up for it during their unchecked free time so long as nobody hogged the bathroom. Abby listened with half an ear to the others chatting about hockey and their summer holidays her mind elsewhere, wondering how things were going at her old school and what plans her friends would be laying for putting the world to rights, her thoughts drifted to the boys on her street as well and whether they’d be missing having her around. She’d only been at school for a day but her old life now seemed so far away.

“Abby,” Katy’s voice cut across her thoughts.
“Huh, what? Sorry.”
“Have you listened to a word we’ve been saying?” asked Katy.
“Not really, sorry, was thinking about something else.”
“I say,” began Jinny. “You’re not homesick are you?”
“Oh no,” replied Abby with a shake of her head. “I was just wondering what would have been going on back there that’s all.”

Katy reached across to give her a comforting pat on the arm and in doing so overbalanced on the arm of the sofa that she was precariously balanced on and ended up in an unceremonious heap on the floor much to the amusement and wild shrieks of laughter of the others. “It’s not funny,” groaned Katy as Jinny and Lara pulled her up.

“It hurt! I was only trying to be nice to Abby.”
Lara rolled her eyes. “It was obviously such a shock to you then,” she said with a grin to which Katy replied by pulling possibly the worst face Abby had ever seen. “Anyway Abby, why don’t you tell us about yourself.”
“Huh… what…?” faltered Abby.
“Where you come from, your mum and dad and all that,” replied Lara.
“Idiot,” retorted Katy perching back on the arm of the sofa, noticing the fleeting look of horror that crossed Abby’s face. “Her mum’s dead.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry Abby,” said Lara quickly.
Abby shrugged. “It’s no problem, I didn’t really know her anyway, she left my dad when I was a baby. She was an archaeologist you see and loved her work too much. But it’s partly because of her that I’m here, she used to be a pupil here,” she broke off and surveyed the expressions of the others, somewhere between confusion and sympathy. “I’m trying to get to know her now, it’s all a bit odd. The other reason that I’m here is that… Well I don’t really know, my dad just made the decision whilst I was staying with Katy’s gran in the summer. Dad’s a doctor,” she qualified. “A paediatrician at that, it’s always been the two of us. Anyway, surely there are more interesting things to talk about?”
A stunned silence fell on the group before Katy broke it. “The record’s finished, anyone fancy going to change it, or we could go and join that lot from B who wandered off to see what’s on TV?”
“Doubt there’s anything on,” muttered Jinny in reply. “There never is.”
“Pessimist,” grinned Jilly.
“Doom monger,” added Katy. “Abby, why don’t you choose the record?”

Abby shrugged and got up, crossing the room to the record player with a secret grin on her face. A few moments later the opening chords of London Calling were filling the common room.

“What’s that then?” asked Jilly as Abby rejoined them.
Abby rolled her eyes in reply. “The Clash,” she replied sinking back into her spot on the sofa. “Have you lot got no souls?” She glanced around the blank expressions of her classmates. “Clearly not,” she said with a grin.
“I think this was Jessie Hunter’s from the fifth,” said Katy. “She was into this sort of thing when she was in the third.”
“Nice to know somebody in this school has a soul then,” said Abby with a grin.
“We have got souls!” exclaimed Lara indignantly.
“Lara, you like Bros,” retorted Katy. “Nobody who likes Bros has a soul.”
“Cheek!” cried Lara aiming a cushion on Katy who once more slid from the arm of the sofa into a heap on the floor giggling as she did so.

Abby sank back into the sofa as the conversation moved on once again. For the moment she was quite happy to just sit and listen to the eager chatter of the others. She knew that she’d eventually overcome her shyness but for the moment she needed to adjust fully to her new surroundings.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:56 am; edited 1 time in total

#140: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:11 am

I wonder if Abby will successfully convert the CS girls to liking the Clash!

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

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:23 am

Bros!! How did you just get Bros into a CS story!! Shocked

Thank you Pimshire

#142: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:53 am

Thanks Pim bin dim dominilli. Smile

I was dreaming about this drabble, but I can't remember what exactly.

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

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 1:23 pm

pim wrote:

“Lara, you like Bros,” retorted Katy. “Nobody who likes Bros has a soul.”

Imagining a CS full of Brosettes! Laughing

Thanks Pimfonia Liz

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

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:36 pm

Thank you Pim. *g* Hope they like The Clash!

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

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 3:34 pm

Pimgarees, that was lovely! Thank you!

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

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:01 pm

Hehe, Bros, oh what memories. One thing though Pim, do you have Dr Morgan penned as son of a CS girl, with the can/may thing? Tar very much Lord of the Pims JackieJ

#147: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:03 am

Thanks Pim, lovely interaction between the girls, very real.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:10 am

I think I'm going to have "London Calling" going through my brain the rest of the day... ...gotta be better than Bros (if I could remember anything they did)

#149: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:24 am

Um, who is Megan? Yes, I know, I should have read all of the previous drabble before I started this, but I got so far behind, and there has been so little time, and I just couldn't resist starting this one. Having said that, I don't really need to know about Megan to enjoy this. Thanks Pim. And I'm pleased to see that you are making use of the shiny bright thingy that I told you about Ally:wink:

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

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:44 am

Miss Di wrote:

...gotta be better than Bros (if I could remember anything they did)

Huh. I've had "When will I - will I be famous?" going round my brain since I read the Bros reference.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:14 am

Pur-leeeassse Pim, can't Jo get Megan a scholarship to the CS? She needs a boarding school with her grannie being poorly. and, oh look, what a coincidence, she'd probably be in Abby's form... Thanks Sohoife, till you said that I only had London Calling, but now I have an intersting combination of London Calling & When will I, will I be FA-MOUS?! singing it's way round my head!! Confused

#152: Author: Alex, Location: Hunts, UK

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:23 pm

The only Bros song I know is Cat Among the Pigeons which I always thought was sung by a woman with a slightly low voice Embarassed

#153: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:33 pm

Ellie wrote:

Um, who is Megan?

In bref Megan is the same age as Abby and lived in the village where Mary-Lou ended up. ML befriended Megan whose mother had just died and wrote something about it. Jo tracked her down and she's agreed to help Abby, somehow.

Megan hid herself in the spare room at the Purves’ that evening under the pretence of doing her homework. In reality she had done next to nothing, her exercise books lay open and untouched in front of her as she tried to make sense of the events of the day. Gran had been moved from Casualty up to another ward, she hadn’t broken anything in the fall but as the doctor in Casualty had explained to her they were worried about the state of Gran’s health. The doctor on the ward had spoken to her at great length and in a manner she’d been able to understand about why they were so worried. She’d always been aware that Gran had kept enough tablets ‘to keep a chemist’s shop supplied’ as she’d put it in the bathroom cabinet but Megan hadn’t ever realised what they were for. She remembered that Gran had been quite ill when she’d been younger and in hospital a lot, but her mother had never explained it all properly to her. Now she knew that Gran had had a heart attack and surgery to put the problems with her heart right. She remembered that Gran had had a hip replacement a few years ago when her arthritis had got too bad. The doctor at the hospital had reassured her that she shouldn’t be too worried, they were just keeping Gran in to be on the safe side because her blood pressure had been too high. Staring blankly at the pages in front of her Megan hoped that the doctor was right, if anything happened to Gran she would be left alone, they’d have to find her father who she wasn’t even sure would want to take her on. If he did it would mean moving and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

Vi had phoned Robert that evening and they’d been free to have a good long chat. Ruth had gone out with some of her old primary school friends for the evening to take her mind off the reading she hadn’t done for going back to Oxford and Alexis had gleefully accepted a friend’s invitation to go over for tea. They’d talked at great length about how different it was without the presence of their respective daughters she’d sensed that Robert was putting a brave face on things but couldn’t say so. At the end of the conversation he’d agreed to come down and spend the following weekend with Vi, Ruth would have gone back to Oxford and she knew that she could easily pack Alexis off to one or another of her many friends. Neither of them were completely sure where the weekend would take them yet.

Nancy was pleased to see Kathie in the midst of the chatter and chaos of the staff room when she arrived there later that evening. The dark shadows that had settled on her face the previous day had gone for the time being and it was as though the previous evening had never happened.

“Nice to see you back to your old self,” Nancy whispered as she passed Kathie on her way to take the seat that was being offered to her on the other side of the room by Davida Armitage and Lucy Webber.

There were times when they needed no words, only a simple gesture of support as a reminder of their friendship.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:57 am; edited 1 time in total

#154: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:57 pm

Lovely Pim, thanks. Curious about Abby's dad now...is there going to be a stunning EBD coincidence here? Wink

Love that last line - beautiful.

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

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:57 pm

pim wrote:

There were times when they needed no words, only a simple gesture of support as a reminder of their friendship.

Beautiful Thanks Pimigalee Liz

#156: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 8:40 pm

Lyanne wrote:

Pur-leeeassse Pim, can't Jo get Megan a scholarship to the CS? She needs a boarding school with her grannie being poorly. and, oh look, what a coincidence, she'd probably be in Abby's form...

Joey will come along to save the day, with her never- ending supply of scholarships/spare rooms!!!!!!!

#157: Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:12 pm

Thanks for the explanation Pim, and I will catch up with your other drabbles, I promise.

#158: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:26 pm

*Huggles Megan*

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

Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:46 pm

*wraps Megan in a fluffy blanket and wards of real life for her, just for a lickle while!*

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

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:08 am

Thanks Pimbalina

#161: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:29 am

Thanks...poor Megan Sad

#162: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:05 am

Thanks Mrs Pimburton. Poor Megan. Sad

#163: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:22 am

ooh, if Vi and Robert get married, that will make abby and livia sisters-by-marriage!hope Megan is okThanks Pim

#164: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:35 am

Thanks Pim. Nice to see all the different threads continuing,

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

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:11 am

pim you do amaze and impress me with your ability to keep so many balls in the air!!

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

Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:17 pm

Sophoife wrote:

pim you do amaze and impress me with your ability to keep so many balls in the air!!

I just hope two of them are Matthew's........ Twisted Evil

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

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 4:28 am

Vikki wrote:

Sophoife wrote:

pim you do amaze and impress me with your ability to keep so many balls in the air!!

I just hope two of them are Matthew's........ Twisted Evil

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

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 5:22 pm

*raises eyebrow* Are you all right over there Sophoife? Wink

#169: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:05 pm

*ahem* *pulls topic of conversation OUT of the sewer*

Abby had found her first full day in class at the Chalet School hadn’t been half as bad as she’d been expecting. They’d started out with English, taught by Miss Webber their form mistress, who had run through the things they’d be studying over the course of the year and left them with a short piece of prep to write about an event of their summer holidays. That had been followed by geography with Miss Ferrars and an introduction to farming patterns in the British Isles. It had been a topic Abby had covered at her old school and she’d had to sit on her hands during the class to avoid seeming over eager and answering all the questions. Maths with Miss Webber had led them up to lunch, during which Abby had made a complete muddle of her algebra, something which she had always been good at before. In the afternoon she and Rhianna had gone to join 3B for German which Abby decided was going to be much trickier than French. The day finished with science taught by Miss Rawling, it was by far Abby’s strong point and the things they would cover over the course of the year appealed to her, unlike Lara who complained that Abby had to be mad to enjoy science.

3A headed back to the common room once lessons were over 15:45 to amuse themselves until dinner at 18:30. The school had continued to use continental times when it had moved back to England, partly because it was easier, partly because it was tradition. Prep had been set but they were allowed to do it under their own steam between the end of classes and bedtime in their boarding houses study rooms or in the library. Looking around Abby realised that most of 3B weren’t in the common room and were probably somewhere else doing their prep she wanted to make a good start on hers before dinner since she didn’t really want to be doing it in the run up to going to bed. She’d always had erratic homework habits at home, often working in the small hours of the morning but she knew she couldn’t get away with that here. Thinking over what prep they had been set Abby knew that she could manage the science, maths and geography with very little trouble but the English and German would be somewhat trickier.

After chatting to Lara, Rhianna and Emilia for half an hour she decided that it was time to go and make a start on her prep and made her excuses. Rhianna opted to join her so they could help each other on with the German should they need to do so. Finding a quiet corner of the library the two of them settled down to work their way through the German exercises with the aid of a dictionary perched on the table between them. As she and Rhianna groaned their way through the exercises Abby realised that she had found a good friend in Rhianna.

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:59 am; edited 1 time in total

#170: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:27 pm

Yay that Abby has a friend! Very Happy

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:42 pm

And yay for more of this! Thank you Pimperita!

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:27 pm

Huzzah, Abby has returned Very Happy

Thank you Pimwithpeassproutsandcarrotsontop

#173: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:05 pm

Thanks Pim. Hope you had a good trip.

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:09 pm

Yay!!! Thank you Pimilococcus! Wink

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:11 pm

Thanks Pimdaroooo Liz

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:40 pm

Ooooh, more Abby and with a friend, thanks Pimch.

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:31 pm

Glad Abby has a friend. Thanks Pimderosa,

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 9:58 pm

Thank you pimbo baggins JackieJ

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

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:16 pm

lovely update, pim-pernell

#180: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:12 pm

Megan had had a bad day at school, she’d found it impossible to concentrate on her lessons for thinking about her Gran. She’d explained the situation to her form tutor but by the end of the day her teachers’ patience was beginning to wear a bit thin. She’d avoided her friends at breaks and lunch so that she didn’t have to talk about what was going on she didn’t feel in the right frame of mind for their latest popstar crush. The end of school bell came as a welcome relief to her as she fled from the gates and into town to catch the bus out to the hospital without even stopping to bid her friends goodbye.

The bus journey to the hospital was one she had taken far too often either to visit her mother or her gran. She knew every twist and turn in the road, every stop. She stared blankly out of the window for the duration of the trip, seeing nothing as the world passed her by. She also knew the hospital too well and aimlessly followed the signs up to the ward where gran would be. She shuddered as she passed through the bleak, endless, mazelike hospital corridors, there were some memories that would never fade. She tried to calm her breathing as she walked to the nurse station on the ward, repeating to herself that gran was going to be fine. The young nurse smiled at her over the desk as she asked for gran but as soon as she heard the name, her face fell.

“What’s happened?” whispered Megan, she’d seen that expression before the day that her mother had died. “Gran’s not… is she?”

The nurse shook her head and indicated that Megan follow her to a side room where she explained that Gran had had another heart attack, much more serious than the previous one.

“Why did nobody let me know?” asked Megan. “Mrs Purves tried to call school,” the nurse replied. “But they said you’d left already, it was only half an hour ago that it happened.”
Megan stared at the floor feeling as though her whole world had just crashed down around her. “I need to see her,” she said eventually.
“Of course you do,” said the nurse

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:00 am; edited 1 time in total

#181: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:16 pm

Oh.

Poor Megan. Thanks Pimmilegsiheadilulu.

#182: Author: Caroline OSullivan, Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:19 pm

Poor Megan. Hope she gets a chance to say 'goodbye' to her Gran. Thanks Pim

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:23 pm

Poor Megan Crying or Very sad

Thank you Lovely pimperine!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:55 pm

Oh poor Megan *sniffs* Who's going to look afrer her now? Thank you Pimphyle Very Happy

#185: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:01 pm

oh poor megan hope she gets to say goodbye

#186: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:03 pm

Oh, that's sad Sad

Poor girl.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:30 pm

Poor Megan - nasty teachers for not beign sympathetic enough. Nice nurse though thankyou pimpythetically

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:43 pm

Poor Megan. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Pimopatra Liz

#189: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:39 pm

Oh porr Megan, I hope someone's there for her because that doesn't sound good at all *wibbles* Thanks pim (does that count as a strange name for you these days? it's hardly ever used!)

#190: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 5:49 pm

Poor Megan, please don't kill her Gran Pim!

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:27 pm

(((megan))) please let her see her Gran and have everything explained to her before her Gran dies.

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:40 pm

Poor Megan, who will she turn to now? Thanks Pimicillin

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:09 pm

Poor Megan, I hope her Gran's okay. Luffly though Pim JackieJ

#194: Author: auntie karry, Location: Stoke on Trent

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:22 pm

Is Megan going to be Joey's next adoptee? (I think I know how she feels, having just adopted five new nieces!)

#195: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:26 pm

Just caught up Very Happy

Abby

Megan

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

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:15 pm

Poor Megan! Take care of her Pimouse

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

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:11 am

*hugs Megan!* Poor kid!!!

#198: Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:33 pm

Oh poor Megan *sniffs* Who's going to look afrer her now?

You KNOW Ally... remember, you told me that entire plot line!!!! )

Megan had eventually found Mrs Purves and together they sat in silence in one of the bleak, endless hospital corridors. They sat for what seemed like an eternity until one of the doctors appeared. Megan didn’t recognise him, he was probably new.

“Mrs Purves, Miss Webb?” he asked and they both nodded and then followed him to a small side room.
“What’s happened?” asked Mrs Purves, casting an anxious eye over at Megan.
“Mrs Webb suffered from a massive heart attack, we tried everything to save her but she died.”

There was a stunned silence before Megan gave a half choked sob. Mrs Purves instinctively slipped a comforting arm around her shoulders, which Megan shook off. She would never remember the rest of that conversation, it was something she would block out of her mind. She was now well and truly alone in the world, the father who had been absent since she was a small child of six would not want to know her, gran and mother had been all her family. Through the crashing in her ears Megan vaguely heard Mrs Purves saying that she could stay with her as long as she needed, as well as mentioning something about finding her father.

“Is there anyone we can call for you Megan?” asked the doctor.
Megan shook her head, but then remembered. “Yes,” she said quickly. “There is.”

Last edited by pim on Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:01 am; edited 1 time in total

#199: Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:35 pm

oh who?!

#200: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:37 pm