Rachel tests the Chalet School - 5/9
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#1: Rachel tests the Chalet School - 5/9 Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:48 pm

Alright I know that I have stretched the truth beyond credulity with the ages of some of the characters, but I did want to write a story with people that I knew and loved from the books, but set at such a time as people with Special Needs would be expecting the school to let them in as easily as any other pupil, and I think ‘Rachel’ a good start for this. I’m also not very sure about the staff list by the time that ‘prefects’ has finished due to the fact that I personally do not own any after ‘reunion’ and it is one of a few I own as late at that time, so apologies for any mistakes in this area!

Chapter 1 - the surprising letter


Hilda Annersley looked up in relief as Nell poked her head round the door.
“You busy Hilda?”
“I am a bit Nell, but you are just the person I want to see. I need advice when you have a minute. However that can wait for now. What was it you wanted to see me about?”
“Oh just a few forms that have gone astray as per usual at this time of year. Whats the problem Hilda?”

Hilda glanced over at her friend with a smile on her face. “Oh, just a letter about a new girl. I’m not sure whether we should accept her or not. The letter makes it such a difficult decision. Having such a girl in the school could affect the life of every other pupil here.”
“One of those is she? Lets see it then.” The letter that she read did not however fulfill her expectations:

“Dear madam. I am writing to ask if you would consider accepting my daughter Rachel Westley to your establishment. She is 15 years old and is an unusual girl in many ways.

“She recently received a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome however and would require several things to make her life in the school easier. For a start she requires a room which she can retreat to and be on her own, she will as far as possible need to have her meals on her own without having to deal with the crowds and noise that occurs in a meal time situation.

“She may also benefit from not having to sleep in a dorm with others, especially as she happens to find sleeping difficult, and any kind of light or noise distracts her from sleeping. I know that supporting a child like Rachel will be difficult for an establishment of this kind, but she longs to try, and I cannot bring myself to say no to her when she decides that she is willing to push herself on to make a big effort, for surely difficult though she may find it, it is good for her not to allow herself to be limited by her extra needs.

“She is truly a special girl and my wife and I will miss her, though we are pleased that it is for something which can be so beneficial for her. I pray that it will be, I know that Rachel herself will do all in her power to make it so, for once she has made up her mind to do something of this kind she lets nothing stop her.

“Yours sincerely, William Westley.”

Nell read this most unusual effusion through a few times before turning to Hilda with a troubled look on her face. “If you are thinking about turning the kid down Hilda, then you will have to think again. There is too much about equal opportunities now for us to even consider suggesting that she go elsewhere because of her having extra needs you know.

“And we have coped very well with girls who have been far more complicated, although not quite in the way that young Rachel will be of course.” Hilda smiled at her gravely

“I’m not really objecting on that score, I’m concerned with how well the girl will cope in our atmosphere, it strikes me that it will be the worst possible thing for her, and the good man doesn’t even give any details about what support she may need in class time.

“It’s the practicalities that bother me. How can we support this child in the way that she needs to be without making the others jealous of her, or teasing her for being different.

“We have not got permission to tell the others about the reasons for her needs, and let me remind you that the world is a rather different place to the way it was when Joey and co were at school, or even the triplets.

“Neither of us are far off retirement now you know. While we can still trust the girls in some ways, they are also less trustworthy in other ways. How can we make this viable Nell?”

“I don’t know, its certainly a problem, but we must Hilda, there is no other option with the currant political climate. We’re very lucky to have had no problems with this issue so far. However I think this calls for some younger minds, shall we go and call on the staff room?”



Well thats it so far, what does anyone think?

eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:42 pm; edited 119 times in total

 

#2:  Author: JoW, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:19 pm

This could be really interesting. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the school copes and how your heroine copes with the school. I do hope she meets with support and understanding.

 

#3:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:26 pm

This will be interesting please post more.

 

#4:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 7:44 pm

Definitely post more Squirrel!

I think Hilda is being wise in thinking of the practicalities as she doesnt seem to know much about AS, but Nell seems more interested in Politics than helping a girl fit in and find her place.

Hope we see lots more soon!

 

#5:  Author: RroseSelavy, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:27 pm

This looks really interesting - am looking forward to reading future episodes. It'll be fascinating to see how Rachel interprets/reacts to the CS system.

I hope the girls can be understanding and help Rachel adjust to school life. (And that the staff can all recognise that she's not just being difficult). I guess a lot will depend on exactly how severe (?) her Asperger's is. The wife has two students in his dept with AS, and I know they're very different in terms of their needs.

 

#6:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:34 pm

This looks interesting Squirrel. I wonder how the school will cope.

 

#7:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:55 pm

This looks really interesting Squirrel, thank you.

We are getting alot of new drabbles at the moment - it's great!

 

#8:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:59 pm

Have you got some more ready to post? Please?

 

#9:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:14 pm

Another one here that is very interested in how the school will cope. Please post more soon.

 

#10:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:18 pm

This looks very interesting. I have a brownie with suspected Aspergers, and I know how we have to adapt things to suit her. So am very interested to see what will happen.

 

#11:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:00 pm

ok then guys, heres a few thoughts for the second chapter. Have taken ideas from self at school and at uni, cause I do have the diagnosis myself, which makes writing about NT's (Sorry neotypical's - in othe words people without Aspergers) something of a difficulty. The only plus is tha tI have been reading about them for years!

Chapter 2 – the journey

Rachel was nearly dancing with excitement and nerves. Today she was actually off to the school she had been dreaming about attending for months. The tune of her favorite song was on and she mouthed the words as her mother talked to her. A month or two before that would have meant a row, but since her parents had come to realize that this was all part of the diagnosis, and had found that singing while they spoke to her or not she was actually listening, they had eased off for a bit. The case was packed and locked up, trunk sent off a week before, and all other things were done. She hopped about impatiently waiting for everyone else to be ready to go.

Eventually they were, though it had seemed to take about a day to Rachel, in actual fact it had barely been about 5 minutes. They were seated in the car and were going down the drive. Suddenly Rachel began to feel rather frightened. The girls would be nice wouldn’t they?

Shaking herself Rachel spoke out loud “Of course they will be nice you silly girl. This is what you have always wanted. Ok so its not easy, but who ever promised that it would be easy?” Her parents smiled in amusement. So often the only times they ever got a window into what she was feeling was when she felt the need to talk out loud in this manner.

Then they sobered, since they knew that sometimes it was her only way of recognizing what her feelings were. “I do hope that they will keep a good watch out for her health William. You know what she is like. She doesn’t ‘feel’ ill the way other people do you know.”
“Relax Jennie. Boarding schools are far more up to this than anyone else is. And they know to watch out for her. You can be sure that the Matrons will be keeping a firm eye on her. We can’t keep her home forever you know” This last with a hint of sadness to it that flew right over Rachel’s head.

The rest of the journey seemed to go quickly, and they were soon at the train station, ready to meet the escort mistresses who were coming to take the children to the school.

Rachel turned very clingy as they left the car refusing to let go of her mothers arm, daunted by the size of the building. “Its all right Rach, You will be fine, you knw you will” Her mother told her. Rachel repeated the words over and over. “I will be fine, I will be fine”.

Trying to be helpful William strode over to the mistresses he had seen clustered over by some seats. “Excuse me, My Daughter Rachel was to join you here.” He informed them. One of the younger mistresses looked up quickly. “Ah yes, Rachel Westly. Of course. If you wouldn’t mind taking me over to where she is I’ll introduce myself to her. I’m Miss Darleigh, and I am one of the escort mistresses this time.” While she was talking William had escorted her over to his wife and daughter.

“Hello Rachel” Miss Darleigh said to the back of Rachels head. When you are ready I am going to take you over to the train and put you into a quiet compartment. If you would like you can have one or two of the girls to stay with you, if not we shall give you time to settle down, and then us mistresses will join you when we have a chance to. (We thought this might be a good way to get her used to the changes before springing the girls on her all at once)” she commented to the adults in a quieter voice. Rachel turned to her, with a sullen looking expression on her face and nodded her head to show her agreement.

“Its not that she is in a bad temper” her mother was quick to explain “its just that she gets so stressed over coping with new situations that her face goes blank, to preserve energy for other different things”.

Miss Darleigh smiled quietly at them. “no need to explain anything to us, but thanks. We got as much information on Aspergers as we could before we agreed to take her.”

“Rachel I hope that you will find us as understanding as you might hope, but I also hope that you will forgive us if we make any silly mistakes. We have never had a pupil with Aspergers before, so we are only learning about how you see life.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:13 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#12:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:02 pm

this is great squirrel! i'm curious to see how she will cope, having seen many chn struggle in mainstream schooling, wondering how she will manage in such a, dare i say it, claustrophobic, environment.
please post more Very Happy

 

#13:  Author: Joan the Dwarf, Location: Er, where am I? PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:11 am

Cool! More, please!

There has, of course, been an aspie girl at the CS before... Edna Purdon actually fits the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria from what's given in Oberland!

 

#14:  Author: Shander, Location: Halifax PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:22 am

Hi Squirrell,
I really like this drabble. Not only are the plot etc. interesting, but I have an aunt who was diagnosed with asperger's a few years ago at 35, so this is really interesting for me to read with her in mind too.

 

#15:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 4:08 am

Nice that the School have researched this - still expect their to be squalls ahead.

Thanks Squirrel.

 

#16:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:38 am

It's very good, Squirrel and it is particularly interesting as you can give us NTs an insight into what it is like from the other side which we don't usually get.

 

#17:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:05 am

This is really interesting - I know nothing about Asperger's myself and, as with so many other drabbles, this one's about to spark me into doing some research.

The CBB - inspirer of much knowledge-seeking and gathering...

 

#18:  Author: Robin, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:13 am

this does look interesting, although I'm not sure it's in the right forum?
Perhaps St Therese might be better?

but looking forward to seeing more all the same! Thanks Squirrel

 

#19:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:39 pm

Please keep writing Squirrel, am finding this really interesting Smile

 

#20:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:54 pm

Please do keep writing Squirrel (but I don't think we have to tell you that?). And please keep posting more here!

 

#21:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:43 pm

This is excellent. Miss Darleigh seems like a very understanding and sympathetic mistress, I hope we'll see more of her.

 

#22:  Author: Cath, Location: Coventry PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:28 pm

This is extremely interesting! Thanks Squirrel, am looking forward to more. Smile

 

#23:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:32 pm

This is absolutely fascinating, Squirrel, please post lots more. I'm really looking forward to finding out how both Rachel and the School cope with one another, and also to learning more about Asperger's Syndrome, which I know very little about at the moment.

Thankyou! Smile

 

#24:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:42 pm

Joan the Dwarf wrote:


There has, of course, been an aspie girl at the CS before... Edna Purdon actually fits the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria from what's given in Oberland!

Can someone remind me?
Thanks Squirral

 

#25:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:50 pm

Thanks Squirrel - this looks excellent. I'm looking forward to seeing how Rachel settles in, and how the girls react to her.

Liz

 

#26:  Author: Lucy, Location: Leeds PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:32 pm

Another person settling down and eagerly awaiting for more.

This looks really good

 

#27:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:03 pm

Joining the others in looking foward to more!

Especially as someone in college has Aspergers, and I'm never certain how to deal with her if she suddenly bursts into tears for no apparent reason, bangs her head on the table, or loudly exclaims "bollocks" in a room full of people and silences them completely, showing no inhibitions whatsoever...

 

#28:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:30 am

Is it time to chant?
*waits*
*starts chanting anyway*

 

#29:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:31 pm

Ok guys, a little more for you. I have lots of ideas, but it can be tricky getting them to flow properly, as I'm sure some of you are aware! As for the queston of what house it really belongs in... Not sure, probably not the best judge Confused

Chapter 3 -On the train

Rachel felt a strange affinity to Miss Darleigh and she soon found herself walking over to the train quite happily. There seemed to be something about the mistress that appealed to her. “Is it perhaps possible for one other girl to come with me?” she asked quietly. Miss Darleigh smiled at her,

“Yes of course it is Rachel. If you would feel comfortable waiting here I will get someone who will be in your form, if not you could settle in on the train first?” She enquired gently.

Rachel stood feeling very uncertain at this choice she had been presented with, wait here or wait on the train. How could she know what was the best, even thinking about the decision made her feel nervous. Luckily for her, the mistress had been watching her carefully as she asked the question, and before Rachel had hesitated for more than a few seconds she suggested that she might feel more secure if she was actually on the train before she was left alone, and Rachel was pleased to agree.

Several minutes later she was comfortably settled in an empty compartment which also had some bags and jackets scattered on the seats. “Now if you wouldn’t mind looking after our bags, I’ll send someone to sit with you.” She hardly waited for Rachel to respond before she turned and left the compartment, leaving her to reflect on all the new experiences she had been faced with so far.

It wasn’t long before she heard footsteps outside, and turning round she saw a small sunny faced girl coming into the compartment. “Hi there. You are Rachel I know. Miss Darleigh told me.” She smiled at her and sat down “I’m Joanne, and I’ve been asked to make sure that you know all that you need about the school. Any questions, you can direct them to me, and I will do my best to answer them for you.”

Rachel only responded with a nod of her head. It was really too much at this precise moment for her to actually talk, there was so much going on that she was struggling to take it all in, she just wanted to have an observatory role this time.

Joanne chattered on so much that Rachel soon found that she couldn’t take all of the information in, and she stood up. “I say, where are you going?” she asked standing up as well. She was privately horrified at the expression that was on the new girls face. She couldn’t explain what was wrong with it, but she didn’t like it in the slightest. “I need some fresh air” Rachel muttered.

eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:14 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#30:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:38 pm

Oh dear, hope Joanne has been told a little of Rachel's condition.

Thanks Squirrel.

 

#31:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:39 pm

Shocked Poor Rachel Sad

 

#32:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:15 pm

Thanks Squirrel

I hope Joanna doesn't take a dislike to Rachel based on the expression on her face - hopefully Miss Darleigh put some thought into which girl to send to join her and it will be ok.

Liz

 

#33:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 12:31 pm

Squirrel this is really interesting and I hope there is lots more!

I hope Joanna will try and understand.

 

#34:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 3:08 pm

Ok, heres the next little part, its not a new chapter, its just a continuation of the last one. I'm hoping to get another little bit done before tomorrow as I'm off for a weeks holiday then and wont be back before sunday (late). So that will be the last until I've got to start studying again, and that may make it a little difficult to get much writing done, heres hoping it wont make it that much more difficult tho! Laughing

Just then, Miss Darleigh turned up and promptly put a spoke in any idea of Rachel going outside. “I’m sorry girls, you are going to have to sit down just now, the train is about to leave”. Then, noticing how withdrawn Rachel appeared to be she stopped a minute. “Like to come with me for a bit Rachel?” she asked her. The girl moved quickly to her side and took hold of her arm.. “Come on then, we’ll go see what the others are doing, though I warn you, its going to be a bit of a chattering mob just now!” Rachel merely moved closer to her.

“We’ll be back in a bit Joanne, you can stay here, or you can go and join some of your friends for a bit. Just remember what I told you on the platform”. Joanne blushed scarlet at this, though neither the mistress nor Rachel noticed it as they had already left the carriage.

She had thought she had been doing the right thing chattering away like that, she had thought that it would ease the new girl out of her nerves, could it be possible that the chatter had merely made a difficult situation worse for the new girl? How would you welcome someone any other way? It would have seemed awfully rude to go in and not say any thing…

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:14 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#35:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 3:49 pm

Poor Joanne, must be a difficult situation for her too - pleased Miss Darleigh appeared when she did.

Thanks Squirrel - enjoy your holiday.

 

#36:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:07 pm

Thanks Squirrrel. Poor Joanne and poor Rachel. Joanne must feel awful.

This is a fascinating insight into the problems on both sides. Have a good holiday and I hope studying doesn't get in the way of this too much because it really is interesting.

 

#37:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:47 pm

Yay for Miss Darleigh!

Thank you Squirrel Smile

 

#38:  Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:08 pm

Thanks Squirrel, enjoy your holiday.

 

#39:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:49 pm

Thanks Squirrel - I'm glad Joanne's motives were good. I hope she'll keep trying and learning.

Have a good holiday

Liz

Last edited by LizB on Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#40:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:56 pm

At least Joanne is thinking about the situation - she seems very nice.

Miss Darleigh is coping very well, good for her. Smile

Thanks, Squirrel Very Happy

 

#41:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:43 am

this looks really interesting, squirrel. please do keep posting.

I like Miss Darleigh, and I can completely understand just where Joanne's coming from - chattering is usually a good way to put people at ease, but I don't think she appreciates that Rachel is different (not in a horrible way, but that her needs and expectations are different to Joanne who seems very normal)

 

#42:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:33 pm

Hey there all, another paragraph or so to be going on with

Rachel did find the trip through the groups of girls a bit of an ordeal, but it was also a welcome chance to see them properly. Now they were sitting at tables, not in a crowd, and not moving around she was able to look at each girl rather than a horde, and was thus able to begin the process of learning the faces of those who surrounded her.

They passed through compartment after compartment filled with girls sitting chattering at tables, in foursomes, and groups of 6 or 7. “Do all girls go around in such large crowds?” She whispered to Miss Darleigh as they passed through a carriage with a particularly large group of friends chattering together. “No, not all girls Rachel.

“Some of these you will find were very uncomfortable at the whole idea of being in a big group, until they got to know the others in the group as well. When there isn’t so much room for them to gather you will also see that they have their own special chums that they go around with, it’s just occasionally that the whole clan forgathers.” After that there was little talk between the mistress and pupil until it was time to return to their compartment again

It seems I can only do a little at a time just now, so I'll try and get some more done soon

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:15 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#43:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:49 pm

Thanks Squirrel - hope Rachel isn't finding it all too overwhelming.

Just post as and when you feel able to - we can be patient.

Liz

 

#44:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:10 pm

Good to see a little more of this - Miss Darleigh seems to have researched Rachel's condition well - knows the right things to say.

Thank you.

 

#45:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:07 pm

Thank you Squirrel. It must be quite overwhelming for Rachel. I think she's doing rather well to cope with so much and so many new people.

Take your time. We'll be patient because we'd like this to continue.

 

#46:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:16 pm

Great to see this again, Squirrel. Looking forward to more as & when you are able.

Thank you.

 

#47:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:40 pm

Thanks Squirrel. Im glad to see Miss Darleigh had obviously done some research and knows what to say. Im sure Rachel is very glad of that in such bewildering circumstances.

 

#48:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:40 pm

good to see more of this

thanks, squirrel

 

#49:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:01 pm

I was at a course yesterday evening, which was about Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and Semantic Pragmatic Disorder. The speaker told us that more fathers of children with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome work with computers than any other career, although this is followed by engineers. Apparently, there is a noticable difference, but only with the fathers' careers, not mothers.

 

#50:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:21 am

My cousin is autistic and his dad's a fireman. His mum is learning how to be a classroom assistant in special schools!

 

#51:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 2:43 pm

hi again all, next little bit of the journey coming up! Hope that your cousin does alright Liane

As they walked back slowly Rachel turned back to Miss Darleigh. “Is it possible that when we stop for a break at some point I could go to a quiet room to be by myself please?” The mistress looked at her rather concerned; she was pale and looked very tired. “Yes of course it is possible Rachel. It would also be possible to arrange for you to lye down on the train if you think that you could sleep while we are traveling?”

Rachel merely nodded her head, and the mistress took her into the empty compartment and tucked her up on one of the seats. Rachel slept for the whole of the train journey and it was only later, much later, that she realized exactly how much good it had done her. She was then able to be with the others for the rest of the journey up to the school.

Joanne was the first girl Rachel saw, and the first thing she did was apologize for her thoughtlessness. "It’s alright Joanne. I know what it is like when you are in that situation; you just do what seems natural. Sometimes I can cope with that sort of thing, and at others... well... to be honest... It’s the last thing that I need."

Joanne was very relieved to actually have got such a positive response from the new girl, and to see that she was looking better. In days to come she was to remember that particular expression and wonder...

The rest of the journey passed like a dream for Rachel. Indeed it was a few days into term before she came to understand why some parts of it seemed to have such a story like quality to it. She couldn’t really take it in that her great wish was being answered at last, that she was experiencing the deepest desire of her heart since before she had even realized it was a possibility.

When she had been younger she had longed to go to one of the schools that her favorite stories had been based on. She knew that this was impossible; the books were set at different establishments. Then someone had mentioned that the author of these beloved books had been at the Chalet School when she was younger, and ever since that time she had longed to go to THAT school, and no objection about distance or anything had she allowed to be of any importance while there was still a chance that she would be able to attend it.

She didn’t expect to meet the said author while she was at the school; she knew that when a pupil left a school they did not tend to come back. However she did acknowledge, however privately, to herself, that even though the realistic part of her told her this, there was still a part of her that was hoping the said respected lady might come for a visit to her old school ONCE while Rachel was there.

After all Sarah Trent, a girl who had lived in the same village as Rachel, And who had been Head Girl at the Chalet the year before, had said that Jo still had strong ties to the school.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:17 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#52:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 4:45 pm

Thank you Squirrel! i have a little boy in my class with Autism and this is really helping me to identify with him!

 

#53:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:02 pm

Hope Joey is warned - she won't want to overwhelm Rachel.

Thanks Squirrel.

 

#54:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:05 pm

Glad it is of some use. I'm just trying to collate things that either I have had with AS myself, or of people I have met. The big thing is that everyone who has this diagnosis is different, and the different diagmoses on the autistic spectrum can have widely different reasons behind the ways they act. You just have to look at the different prognosises to see some of the differences. However it is also important to note that though they come from different reasons, they can have the same coping stratagies to get through difficult situations and it is important to understand that a child with this diagnosis is not just being difficult, they are just trying to deal with a situation that is causing them a huge ammount of stress. Well done to all who have to work with those of us with this kind of diagnosis, I know it must be a constant challenge! Smile

 

#55:  Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:26 pm

This is fascinating Squirrel - I see some similarities between Rachel and my own daughter who is on the Autistic Spectrum (her IQ scores are too far apart to give her a definitive Aspergers diagnosis).

I had to smile at the reference to Rachel singing while her parents spoke to her. My daughter hums incessantly, and before I researched her condition, it drove me mad! Now that I understand it to be one of her coping strategies (of which she has far too many to mention in detail) I can clamp my own mouth shut most of the time and NOT ask her to stop.

If anybody is interested in looking up any more info, the National Autistic Society FOUND HERE has lots of useful info.

 

#56:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:35 pm

I work with kids with autism and my first thought was the noise and lots of people.I haven't met many people with AS though.
thanks Squirrel

 

#57:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:42 pm

This is fantastic. Thank you Squrrel! (my cousin is fine thank you, he is 7 and doesn't talk but he is so loving!)

 

#58:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:15 pm

Hey there all, back again this time with a post that is a little longer than on other occasions. Rachel, I have experianced the singing while someone else is talking from the NT side of the fence! That is to say that I once talked to a girl who was awaiting a diagnosis of AS about what it all meant. How useful I had found the diagnosis and what a difference I thought it could make in her life - especially in school. She was rather nervious about it all I think. Anyhow she mumbled and sang lines out of songs that were playing in the background and played with cards all the way through our conversation. I found that the easiest way for me to make sure that she was listening to me was just to ask her if she was following me, and if she understood what I was getting at. This forced her to put what I was saying in her own words and possibly helped her to process the info more fully than she would otherwise have done. Suffice to say she managed to do this on each occasion I did it. Though it was very hard to keep on talkign when someone did not seem to be paying attention to me!

Chapter 4 first impressions

The school itself had been a big shock to Rachel’s system. When they had eventually arrived at the school there was no real chance of her slipping off to a quiet place, although if she had mentioned it something would have been worked out.

Instead she lined up with the rest of the girls and while the chattering continued for a bit silence soon fell when the head held up her hand. “Good evening girls and welcome back. I know that you must be both tired and hungry after your long journey so I will not keep you long.

“As you will soon realize we have been making some changes in the layout of the school, so to help out we have put signs around the building so you can find your way around. Lastly could those responsible for the new girls bring them to the study immediately after Abendessen. Thank you”.

Once the speech was finished Rachel found herself pulled through some corridors to a ‘splashery’. On seeing her looking puzzled at the new terminology another girl stepped into the fray. “This room is referred to as the splashery Rachel. I think it’s because as well as coats and the like the sinks are here as well. I think some juniors can throw water around at times!”

“You mean the school actually lets us chuck water over each other!” Rachel exclaimed thoughtlessly. Most of the girls just stared, though one or two began to giggle.

It was here that Joanne suddenly came to her senses. “Rachel, firstly please don’t feel bad. If I had thought I would have started to explain all of this to you, so that the others wouldn’t confuse you. Can you forgive me?”

This brought silence to the splashery as the girls listened confused.

Joanne continued seeing the tears in Rachel’s eyes “Rachel listen to me please”. Her classmates were surprised at the sudden authority that had come into Joanne’s voice; they had never seen her like this before. Mind you they had never come across such an unusual new girl before, or at least, unusual in this sense anyway.

“You know that there are some things that throw you, you know that there are some things you find difficult. I think that you are doing brilliantly.

“Just consider all that you have done today. You have left your home and family for the first time. You have been mixing with a pack of noisy school girls none of whom you have ever met before. You have travelled across a continent, and you have coped with it all.

“Ok you didn’t follow the way that Steph used the word ‘throw’ properly. You didn’t understand the context and you handled it the right way, you asked her what she meant.

“I know that the Head and Miss Darleigh would both be very proud of you, never mind what your parents would say. Come along honey, you’re alright!” To her amazement Rachel had dissolved into tears, and Joanne decided that the best thing to do was to take her to a place she could cry in peace and quiet.


Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:22 am; edited 2 times in total

 

#59:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:46 pm

Think Joanne is lovely, hope she's managed to get Rachel to understand and accept.

Thank you.

 

#60:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:50 pm

(((Rachel)))
Joanne is fantastic, I think she will really help Rachel.
Thanks squirell

 

#61:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:10 pm

Squirell, I think you've just enlightened me on the real maning of 'autism spectrum'.

Thank you! You've given me an insight into how varied this can be.

Don't stress over this. It's so good and enlightening, we can wait for you to post as you feel able.

 

#62:  Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:39 pm

this is fab, thank you

 

#63:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:49 pm

wonderful -thank you squirell

 

#64:  Author: Cath, Location: Coventry PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:53 am

Oh, Joanne is lovely. Thanks Squirrel, wonderful update.

 

#65:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:50 pm

Thanks Squirrel - I'm glad it looks like Rachel and Joanne will be friends.

Liz

 

#66:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:46 pm

Thank you, Squirrel, this is really interesting, and I love Joanne!

 

#67:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2005 9:56 am

Hey all, no update yet. Just to let you know though that the last essay is out of the road so I should be able to start on Rachel again soon. Its been a little hectic recently and I'm hoping that drabbling will give me a break during exam time so hopefully that will not interfere either! Be back some point soon!

 

#68:  Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2005 10:13 am

Looking forward to more when you have a chance and good luck with the exams.

 

#69:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2005 2:03 pm

Don't worry about us Squirrel - we'll happily chant until you're ready to start drabbling again! Wink

Good luck with your exams - try not to stress too much!

 

#70:  Author: Emily, Location: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2005 7:24 pm

I'm loving this drabble Squirrel, thanks for writing it. I don't know anything about Asperger's but this is absolutely fascinating and beautifully written. Looking forward to the next bit when you can manage it Smile

 

#71:  Author: Tiffany,  PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 12:47 am

Squirrel, this is great - really really interesting. Thankyou!

 

#72:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:51 am

Ok then. I actually found I had a paragraph written but not posted! Oh well I guess it shows how long its been since I have had a chance to look at the thing. As promised the next part. And you never know... If you are lucky you might even get another update or so before the end of the day!

The rest of the middle school did not see Rachel again until Abendessen by which time she had had the chance to recover herself.

While she made a good meal, it was possible for those who looked closely to realize that she was finding this situation very difficult. She never left Joanne’s side and those astute enough to recognize it realized that it was only with difficulty that she stopped herself from physically holding on to Joanne.

Joanne, to her credit, seemed to manage to handle her just right. She had learned a lot over the course of that day, and she was able to put it all into practice, with a little thought anyhow.

Chapter 5 – settling in

Joanne had been grabbed by Miss Darleigh just before Abendessen began and had been told that she was to take Rachel along to her own room after Abendessen.

Once she had heard what Miss Darleigh had had to say about Rachel’s fragile confidence the head had decided that to have her deal with the crowding of all the girls as she headed along to yet another ordeal would be just too much for the girl.

Joannes instructions were to wait until the hall was clear and then take her charge up to the dormitories which would be deserted. Rachel had already been up to her room once that day so it would seem at least a little familiar to her in comparison with the other rooms.

When Rachel stood to get up with the rest Joanne took hold of her sleeve lightly. “Rachel, Miss Darleigh said we were to wait until the crowds had dispersed a bit.”

“But I’ve to go to the head and I don’t want to be late. I can’t stand being late for things. Please, that stresses me out completely.”

“Its alright Rachel. If you really want to go we will. However the Head sent us a message by Miss Darleigh that she would come up and see you in your own room rather than having you face the crowds like you otherwise would.

“Would you like me to get her to confirm that?” She added seeing the strain coming into the back of Rachel’s eyes again. Rachel had a brief struggle with doubt and the knowledge that Joanne would never have been requested to keep an eye on her if she would tease her. “No… No you are alright. Thanks Joanne. It’s just that stress plays such a big part in my life I try to do anything I can to avoid it.”

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:25 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#73:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 12:05 pm

So glad for Rachel that Joanne's being so supportive.

Thanks Squirrel Laughing Any chance of more paragraphs hiding waiting to be posted? Wink

 

#74:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 12:23 pm

*also hoping for any more paragraphs that might be lurking*

Thanks Squirrel. I'm so glad Rachel has Joanne looking after her - I don't think anybody else could do any better.

Liz

 

#75:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:10 pm

Thanks Squirrel - very fascinating reading, keep posting please!

 

#76:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:23 pm

lol. Tee hee guys. No there was no more hidden away. I'm just finding more time for writing just at the moment that is all. Am not planning on starting any revision until Monday! I need a break after the essay rush you see. Anyhow of that last post, the word "Chapter" was the start of the new stuff that I didnt have written down before I came back to start on it again. I thought it was too small a peice to post without any more with it so I left it until I had written some more! Anyhow I promised a bit more tonight if people were lucky, and it seems that you are!

The interview with the head was an ordeal that was far easier than Rachel would ever have imagined. She was sitting in her room quietly reading her book and relaxing with Joanne sitting on the chair opposite her as she had requested she do when a tap came at the door.

Miss Darleigh was there accompanied by a woman with silvery hair and a long black gown. “Rachel. I would like to introduce Miss Annersley our head mistress to you.” Miss Darleigh said with a smile. “Joanne and I will be outside if you should want us.” And with that she nodded to Joanne and they withdrew.

“Hello Rachel. I hope that you will be very happy here at the chalet.” The voice brought back the memory of being welcomed to the school and suddenly she recognized the lady standing in front of her.

“Oh you are the person who met us at the front steps. I remember you now! Thankyou. I’m sure I will have a good time here.” Rachel immediately relaxed as her memory began to work properly.

“I certainly hope that you do. To try and ensure that you do settle in properly we will have to make some special arrangements. This we can do as a trial and in consultation with you so that we can find out the best mix for you.” Miss Annersley responded quietly.

“However I think you are worn out now so I suggest that we arrange all that another day and you can go to bed now. How does that sound?” She was quite surprised when Rachel turned white at the thought of bed…

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:56 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#77:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:50 pm

Now very curious - why should Rachel be threatened by the idea of bed?


Thanks Squirrel! Laughing

 

#78:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:06 pm

Thank you Squirrel, yet again.

 

#79:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:08 pm

aha - for that you will just have to wait upon the bunny. it certainly wasnt in my game plan until it appeared on the end of that bit! Oh well If you guys have to possess your souls in paitience I suppose I will too. At least I have the benifit of having my cureosity relieved before you will be. Lets see if this bunny will be nice or not!!!

 

#80:  Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 10:31 pm

*strokes the bunny*

nice bunny... good bunny... *proffers carrot*

 

#81:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2005 10:43 pm

ooh we are very lucky. Thank you for the lovely updates

*coaxes bunnyto produces more*

 

#82:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 6:38 am

*sends lots of bunny treats *

 

#83:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 9:00 am

Thanks Squirrel.

*sends more bunny treats*

Liz

 

#84:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 10:15 am

Hmmmm WHat on earth did you guys feed that bunny with??? Ok I'm not sure about how well this holds together but it is an explianation of a kind. Methinks that the bunny will need to have even more imagination for the next post or too!

Rachel had a whirl of thoughts fighting in her mind for her attention. Crowds of girls. A room she had never seen before. Bedtime routines. And the last few weeks at home when her parents had barely looked at her at bedtime saying that she would have to get used to no company.

From being a relief at the end of the working day bedtime had become something of real confusion and almost panic for Rachel. Her parents had just been doing their best to make things easier for her once she started school.

However this was one of the areas where her parents didn’t really understand what her needs were, nor the routine of boarding school life. Rachel had never said anything to her parents about how they were making her feel about bedtime as she was worried they would say she couldn’t go away to school if she didn’t live with the new things which they had decided were the way to get her used to boarding school life.

That was the thing. They had decided it. There had been no consultation with Rachel and she therefore didn’t know how to deal with it.

What to do… How to deal with it… she could tell Miss Annersley… but then that would take confidence and she didn’t really have the confidence to do that at present… Miss Darleigh or Joanne might be able to help… Miss Darleigh… Joanne… She could ask if they could join them… But was she confident enough to ask…?

The thoughts whirled round in her head and Rachel suddenly sat down and curled up in a ball putting her arms around her legs. The world which had seemed to be relatively simple a few minutes ago was suddenly more or less unbearable as she struggled with the fears implanted in her mind by her well meaning parents.

Miss Annersley had been watching her as she battled with her mind. Then as she saw the girl drop she moved forwards to gently move her onto the bed. Rachel saw her coming and shrank back crying out “Don’t touch me. Please don’t touch me!”

Miss Annersley stopped where she was and considered a moment before walking to the door and putting her head around it. “Joanne dear if you would like to go and join your classmates now that would be great. I think Rachel has had enough now. Miss Darleigh would you please join me”

The two nodded in agreement and then followed it up with action. Joanne going to take a well earned break as she had never known such an intense time as she had experienced since she had met Rachel and Miss Darleigh following her head mistress into the room to see what she could do to help.


Eta: Paragraphing
Thanks for all the feedback. Hope that this one has not been too confusing. I'm on slightly shakey ground. However since people with AS can have completely different reactions to different things I've decided to go with it. May however be looking for someone to beta for me at some point in the near future though. SOrry the rest of you if I do, It will no doubt hold up posting time!

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:14 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#85:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 10:39 am

Highly successful bunnie treats Very Happy

Thanks Squirrel, I hope Miss Annersely and Miss Darleigh can find a solution that will help.

 

#86:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 11:08 am

Poor Rachel! When you think how difficult the first days at Boarding School can be even for NT girls and how hard it can be to pluck up courage to tell a member of staff how you feel, it's not surprising that Rachel curls up in a ball.

I'm glad Miss A decided to send Joanne back into school for the moment. she's coping so well but this is really a job for the staff to sort out.

In answer to your query, it hangs together really well Smile

*Digs a patch of garden and sows dandelions for the bunnie*

 

#87:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 1:19 pm

Thank you Squirrel, hope Rachel will be able to let Miss A and co know what her concerns are - and they are able to help her.

 

#88:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 3:35 pm

Scatters plot-bunny food over the whole of the drabble.

 

#89:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat May 07, 2005 8:29 pm

Thank you Squirrel.

I hope Rachel will be okay, and that Miss A can help calm her anxieties.

 

#90:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 7:03 am

Thank you for the update.
*sends more treats, for both bunny and Squirrel

 

#91:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 10:04 am

Thanks Squirrel

Hope Miss Annersley and Miss Darleigh can help Rachel. I'm glad they gave Joanne a break, and I hope she also gets some support as well.

Liz

 

#92:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 2:54 pm

thank you, squirrel.

i hope Miss Annersley and Miss Darleigh will be able to help Rachel. At least they are respecting her wishes so far.

 

#93:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 4:00 pm

Hmmm I feel a bit like Joey in I think its School At… After reading through one of the shiny archived drabbles on the board until after 1.25 this morning I went to bed. While I was trying to sleep the bunny bit and I had a few more ideas for how to continue the tale. Sad to say it but I was half asleep at the time so I decided against waking myself up to write the ideas now. I hope the bunny decides to be nice to me and help me to remember it again! Lol


Well, I did manage, and it seems to have multiplied during the night. If it takes half as much reading as it did writing then I am very sorry for you all!
Twisted Evil
Miss Annersley stopped where she was and considered a moment before walking to the door and putting her head around it. “Joanne dear if you would like to go and join your classmates now that would be great. I think Rachel has had enough now. Miss Darleigh would you please join me”

The two nodded in agreement and then followed it up with action. Joanne going to take a well earned break as she had never known such an intense time as she had experienced since she had met Rachel and Miss Darleigh following her head mistress into the room to see what she could do to help.

The two mistresses turned towards Rachel who was now half lying on the floor flinching away from them. She was shaking from the emotions that were fighting for her attention and was crying without really knowing why. All she knew was that she felt BAD.

Miss Annersley, normally so competent was out of her depth. She had been a schoolgirl and was normally able to empathize with the girls in all of their trials while at school, but she had never had the experience of dealing with a girl like Rachel.

Miss Darleigh saw this and while she didn’t exactly like taking over while her head was in the room she felt that Rachels needs had to come before the needs of the staff. “Rachel. Rachel, what’s up?”

The girl heard her voice and it helped. Just having the link to home, however tenuous a link it might be, helped her to get hold of herself. Now she was in control a little better Miss Annersley felt she could join in again.

“Rachel. I’m sorry if I frightened you child. Will you tell me what I did wrong so that I don’t make the same mistake again please?”

To the surprise of both mistresses Rachel ignored the question at first and spoke on another topic altogether. “You are going to punish me aren’t you? Shouting at a teacher is not allowed. And shouting at the head…” her voice trailed off leaving her looking very defenseless.

Miss Darleigh moved forwards to try and give her support by putting her arm around her. Then the mistresses got another shock as Rachel flinched back calling out. “Oh your going to hit me aren’t you, please don’t hit me!”

Miss Darleigh stopped moving forwards at once. “No Rachel you silly child. I am not going to hit you. I’m not allowed to do such a thing to any child. No teacher is allowed to touch a child in that way.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you but I thought it might help if I put my arm around you.”

It was doubtful if Rachel took much of this in, her eyes had taken on a glazed kind of look which matched well with her face.

“Its happening again Rachel honey. What happened on the train. Its happening again isn’t it?”

Rachel turned to her with a feeling of relief. She had not been wrong in trusting this woman. She understood in a way that no-one else did.

Miss Annersley looked from one to the other, unable to follow the drift of this conversation. The mistress and girl seemed to be communicating in a different world.

“T.V. Screen” Rachel responded. “I normally go out for some fresh air. I normally try to get out of the situation. That’s what I was doing on the train when you came in. And you helped me on that as much as you could. Thankyou.”

“Oh Rachel. I cant pretend that I know exactly what you are going through. I have not that skill I’m afraid. However I know a little of what it is like. I have been in similar places myself at one time or another.

“Come now. Miss Annersley asked you a question. To help you we need to have an answer.” Rachel sighed and thought. After a while she looked up to see both Mistresses looking at her. “What was the question again?” She asked wearily.

It was Miss Annersley who answered. “Just before I got Miss Darleigh to come in I said something about bed. This appeared to frighten you. You stood quite still and then dropped to the floor. I came over to see if I could help you but you flinched away crying out that I was not to touch you.

“I’m sorry if that was wrong and I would like to know what made things that bad so that I can avoid it another time.”

Rachel stood looking at her in amazement. “All that really happened!” She said “Funny… I don’t remember!”

“Then she turned her attention to the question. “I don’t know that it is possible to avoid it.” She paused for a few moments thinking of what she wanted to say next. “I never know when it’s going to happen myself.”

Another pause while Rachel looked around the room for inspiration. “My parents came across it quite regularly at one stage I believe.”

She took another few minutes break while she tried to get up the confidence to actually get down to telling them what they wanted to know.

“I think you have come up against two things this evening.” Her voice had taken on a whole new quality as she went into safe well worn tracks of thought. “The first one was the mention of bedtime which is a bit of an issue for me just now.”

She stopped again for a moment, unwilling to go into the issue further, knowing that it would force her to look at issues that were just too difficult at the moment. One of the mistresses looked like she was about to speak and Rachel quickly shook her head before continuing.

“The other issue was the one that got the more extreme response, and funnily enough is probably the easiest to be dealt with.” She stopped again, evidently thinking, and leaving the mistresses wondering what was coming, and amazed at her adult way of talking at this precise moment.

Miss Darleigh at least could see what was happening, but Miss Annersley was all at sea, wondering exactly how they could deal with this most unusual child.

“I believe that I am going to sound rather like a textbook here. I have been told that I do on many occasions when discussing this subject. I hope that you will let me off this as it is the only way I can be sure that my meaning gets across clearly!”

The two mistresses glanced at each other, and then as time passed Miss Darleigh jumped into the fray again to give Rachel the cue she seemed to want.

“I think you can be reassured that whenever you wish to use this technique to clarify something you are talking about the staff will be more than willing to accept it. I won’t vouch for the girls not making comments though.”

Rachel nodded and seemed deep in thought for a while. It was reaching the stage when Miss Annersley was thinking about calling her mind back to task when Miss Darleigh shook her head. “No, it’s just taking a while for her to work out exactly what she wants to say.” The tone and pitch were at such a level that the preoccupied girl didn’t even register them.

A few minutes more and Rachel seemed to be mumbling to herself. There was a certain tune in the background and she was singing along to it. Miss Annersly began to get angry. This girl was merely time wasting. She began to move towards the girl impatiently. A quick look from her junior held her back. “No, remember her father’s letter!”

The irate mistress swallowed the hasty words that had been forming on her lips and flashed a grateful smile at Miss Darleigh. One thing she could not tolerate was rudeness and this had seemed very much like rudeness.

“I just wish I knew how you understand her so well” She whispered back. To her surprise she saw colour suffuse the younger woman’s face. However she forbore to question her as it was at this point that Rachel saw fit to continue her explanations.

“The touch thing isn’t usually a problem for me. It is more associated with Autism.” Her voice rang out with confidence, startling the two mistresses thoroughly. She really sounded like she was giving a lecture to a group of students and Miss Darleigh had another reason to grab her head’s arm and remind her that they were not dealing with an ordinary girl here. “I don’t know why it affects me at times. Every person with AS, or indeed on the Autistic Spectrum is completely different.

“I knew two girls once who were twins and were identical. This caused a problem as one of the twins had High Functioning Autism and the other had Aspergers. Each girl had a completely different treatment plan for helping her achieve her potential.

“However as they were so similar they were often confused. Rosemary would often be taken for Rowans touch therapy, causing her to scream and hit out at anyone who came near her, and Rowan would find herself dragged off to the light and sound therapy that were beneficial to her sister.

“In Rowans case she would become locked inside her own world for the rest of the day leaving her completely isolated and no-one was able to reach inside it. Except perhaps Rosemary, and that only very occasionally!” The two mistresses glanced at each other, rather surprised at this depth of knowledge into the subject.

“How can I know this? Because both of the twins have some coping strategies that are similar to my own. And some of the things that set the twins off can also have periodic effects on me. I get frightened as I cannot tell which way I am likely to jump.

“At times I go the sound sensory rout and noise and jangles throws me completely into my own world on sound overload. At others I go the whole touch sensitive way. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I can occasionally get so far along that road that both issues come up at once.

“I am not as bad as Rosemary on the touch sensitive thing. Her poor mother has to buy her clothes very carefully. The washing powder and even food at times can set Rosemary off. Sometimes the only escape for Rosemary is a cool bath, which for some reason easies her sensitivities.

“This issue seems big, but it is one I have lived with for as long as I can remember. I can deal with this issue. The other one I cannot deal with and I cannot even face it at the moment. I just don’t have the energy to deal with it”

The two mistresses sat in silence. Indeed, after all of that it was difficult to know exactly what to say. Luckily silence was exactly what Rachel needed at that moment and she curled herself back up into her little ball until it felt right to get back up again.

She didn’t know when it would feel right, but she knew that until it did feel that way she was not going to get back up again. After about 10 minutes of sitting in silence Miss Annersley got up.

“Rachel, I am going to leave you with Miss Darleigh for the present. I feel you have probably had enough for the moment” (and I know I certainly have) she thought to herself “Tamara, if you just want to sit with her for a while, until you are sure that she is comfortable enough to sleep at bedtime that would be great.”

She passed close to her mistress before adding sotto voice “And remember I still want to know how on earth you understand her so well…” With that she left the room, not realizing that Rachel had heard every word and had a secretive expression lurking in the depths of her eyes…


Anyhow, after all that over the weekend I'll probably have to leave it at that for a bit! Keep you guessing while I study and decide what the next part is to write up. I wonder will I be nice and do the next in sequence, or will I prepare some scenes a little further on....? Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:30 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#94:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 4:58 pm

Thank you Squirrel. Poor Miss A is totally out of her depth here, isn't she. It makes me wonder how many undiagnosed people were (and probably still are) misunderstood.

Are you going to tell us how Tamara Darleigh can understand Rachel?

Thank you for the lovely long post.

 

#95:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 5:25 pm

In the end Patmac. I have an idea how it fits into the storyline. The bunny did suggest putting it in here, but I think it fits far better at a later stage. I have no idea yet how long it will take to get there. Paitience is a virtue my dear! In the meantime, help yourselves to the selection of nibbles and a drink. Make yourselves at home in fact. I'll be back when I have worked out exactly what comes where. lol

 

#96:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 5:33 pm

Thank you Squirrel - that was a really interesting post.

*helps self to nibbles and ponders thoughtfully*

 

#97:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 6:57 pm

Good to see more of this.
I'm seeing aspects of the autistic kids I work with- especially the touch
Thanks Squirrel

 

#98:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 7:07 pm

Wow.

That was very well written, Squirrel. Thank you.

 

#99:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 9:32 pm

Thanks for the update and all the information Squirrel

Liz

 

#100:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 9:45 pm

Squirrel wrote:
IPaitience is a virtue my dear! In the meantime, help yourselves to the selection of nibbles and a drink. Make yourselves at home in fact. I'll be back when I have worked out exactly what comes where. lol


And what made you think I might subscribe to any of the virtues?

OK, I'll try this one for a change.

*Settles down with Kat and enjoys nibbles and a drink*

 

#101:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 11:01 pm

*joins patmac and Kat*

Just becuase I'm enjoying nibbles and a drink doesn't mean that I've forgotten about your lovely drabble though! More when you can, please!

 

#102: Rachel tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 11:09 pm

Great posts, Squirrel - you are really sharing a lot of insights about the whole Autism spectrum with the rest of us - thank you.

Will look forward to more whenever you can spare time from revision and exams.

 

#103:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2005 11:29 pm

When I can spare time from revisions and exams.... that would be now then! lol. OOOOH and over 100 posts to this drabble, very nice, thanks guys!

Chapter 6 helping Rachel to feel at home

Rachel had not moved a muscle while Miss Annersley was speaking to her. She heard and comprehended, but was so focused on her current coping strategy that it didn’t register until later. Miss Annersley noticed this and subconsciously put Rachel down as one of the rudest children she had ever come across. This was, in the future, bound to bring many problems for the mistress, never mind the pupil.

At last Rachel decided she was ready to move. When she did she noticed the mistress sitting in a seat just looking at the doorframe. “Its really interesting isn’t it?” Rachel asked her shyly. “Really interesting. Interesting really” Miss Darleigh responded. Rachel couldn’t help but smile in relief. Here was someone she could connect with.

The two played around with words for a while, just enjoying the game. Then Miss Darleigh shook her head and seemed to become a different person. “Alright Rachel, I’m afraid that it is bedtime.” Rachel looked at her before walking over to her. “OK then… Would you mind leading me to where I am to repose in that case?” She asked quietly.

Tamara started before turning to face the child. “Rachel…” She said quietly and pausing to consider her next words. “I thought you understood” Again a pause, again the searching for the correct wording. “This is your room…” pause “This is where you sleep…” Pause “This is where you can shelter from the world when it gets too much”.

There was another silence as the mistress wandered across the room. “We have even given you your own en-suit with the option of having a bath or shower depending on what you prefer.” She wandered over to the quiet girl who was trembling slightly.

“Rachel. I want you to know that this is your space. Most of the time people will only come in here by your invitation. Matron has to have access, and the cleaning staff. Other than that however this room is entirely your own. Now I imagine that you are extremely tired and would like to suggest that you get ready and go to bed.”

She was heading for the door when she felt an icy hand on her arm. “Miss… Miss… Please wait Miss.” She turned back round at once, very concerned. “Rachel, you are frozen. Why are you so cold?”

“Oh am I cold?” Rachel responded. She stopped and made a conscious effort to notice what her body was telling her. “I guess I am a bit. It’s not that bad though. I’ve been worse. I prefer to be too cold to too hot anyway.”

Rachel appeared so unconcerned that the Mistress didn’t know what to think. Her own senses told her that a person who was as cold as all that needed to be warmed up. However Rachel was the one who knew most about what she was used to.

She thought on for a few minutes longer before coming to a full decision. “Rachel. I don’t know what you are used to, but I think it would be a really good idea for you to have a hot drink now.” Rachel looked at her. She was holding herself really quite tensely, however at that comment some of the tenseness seemed to drain away.

“OK” The mistress commented, regardless of slang rules at that particular moment. “Now Rachel” She continued in that tone of voice that denotes an information finding expedition on the part of the enquirer. “I would really like it if you would inform me just why that comment is such a relief to you?”

Rachel looked at her blankly. This was taking some concentration on what she was feeling and she hadn’t expected it. “Ok, I’ll explain…” Tamara continued, apparently oblivious to the fact that Rachel was mouthing her words back at her.

She did notice it and decided to make sure that a notice was given to the other teachers about this coping strategy of Rachel’s. The last thing the child needed was to be pulled up about it in front of everyone else. More than likely the poor child was completely unaware of it.

“When I told you it would be a good idea to have a hot drink you seemed to relax, what I want to know is, is there anything about the idea of a hot drink that is good to you?”

Faced with such a direct question Rachel began to ponder. Tamara didn’t interrupt. She knew that achieving an answer could take a while. She was more than willing to wait. The other girls of Tamara’s age were to be up for another hour or so, so she was not infringing on the bedtime policy in any way.

“A hot drink…” Rachel was pondering now. “I suppose it seems such a good idea because until last week I had a hot drink every night before I went to bed…” Tamara suddenly understood. “Is that why bedtime is difficult for you Rachel? Did your parents suddenly change all your night time routines for you under the…”

Tamara only just managed to stop herself adding the word “mistaken” to the sentence. It would hardly do to go criticizing the girls parents to her face. The tone of voice would have been enough for any other child, but for Rachel it told her only that the mistress was angry and left her wondering why.

“The impression that it would make life easier for you when you got here” She continued eventually. Rachel looked at her quietly. She didn’t know how to respond to that.

“I’m sorry” she said in the end. “I just don’t follow you….” She paused a moment before asking “Are you angry with me?” The mistress gently shook her head.

“Do you know why your parents stopped you having a hot drink at night Rachel?” She asked her quietly. Again, the direct question seemed to work “They said it was because I wouldn’t be able to get a hot drink before bed here.”

The mistress smiled at her gently. “Don’t worry about that Rachel. Your parents have underestimated the school on this occasion. We can’t allow you to have boiling water in your room; health and safety regulations and the like make that impossible.

“However the kitchen has agreed to provide you with a hot drink every evening if you would like it.” Rachel relaxed fully upon this. “Now Rachel, I think it would be beneficial for all of us if you would tell us exactly what your bedtime routine was before it was decided to change it.”

“Bedtime routine… Ok.” Rachel purposefully turned round and started to pace the floor. She went round the room in a square, checking things off as she went. 1 start by getting ready for bed. 2 take all medications. 3 have a hot drink. 4 write down a list of all the things that are bothering me. 5 pray about them and pray in specific that I would not think of them any more. 6 Read a bible verse or two. 7 think on what has been good for the day. 8 thank God for that and give the good things to him. 9 put on some quiet music which is relaxing and unobtrusive.” Rachel stopped pacing. 9 was the magic number. She had them all.

Tamara had been listening closely as she counted off each item. “Well then Rachel. Other than the hot drink you can do every single one of those things independently. There is nothing there that the school would object to your doing, although fitting it all in may mean that you have to go to bed quite a bit earlier than your classmates.

“Now, we have talked about bed long enough. Shall I go and get the kitchen to send up your drink while you put that routine into practice?” Rachel smiled and having got over her brief foray into touch sensitivity she went over to the mistress and hugged her. “Thankyou Miss Darleigh.” With that the mistress left the room and the girl began her bedtime routine.

Now this really will have to be it for the night. SInce it is after 12pm I wont say for today, you may get a bit more at a more decent hour! tee hee! Enjoy all, ETA I'm hoping that the bunny will let me show how rachel settles in next so that I can return to a more chalet like kind of post and can therefore write drabble without it being too time consuming in the middle of all the said revisioning

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:46 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#104: Rachel Tests the Chalet school Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 12:11 am

Well, since I may be the only person to see this until what is a more civilised hour in the UK, Squirrel, (unless anyone 'down under' is following it) let me be the first to congratulate you on another wonderful chapter. It is fascinating to see Miss Darleigh doing her best to understand Rachel's needs, and also how well the school are trying to make things as easy as possible for her by allowing her to keep to all elements of her 'home' bedtime routine.

I can understand Miss Annersley being puzzled because it's clearly the first time she has encountered anyone like Rachel. But I'm sure that if Miss Darleigh can explain Rachel's needs clearly to her, she will eventually understand and be able to help her.

Thank you for sharing all these insights so vividly with the rest of us.

 

#105:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 7:17 am

I don' t think this is a civilised hour either - definitely not for a Monday!

Thanks Squirrel. I think the bedtime routine is excellent - would like to adopt it for myself! Very Happy

Liz

 

#106:  Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 11:20 am

LizB wrote:
Thanks Squirrel. I think the bedtime routine is excellent - would like to adopt it for myself! Very Happy


I was thinking that too!

Really good Squirrel, enjoying this lots, and so well written that we can empathise with Rachel

 

#107:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 12:41 pm

Fascinating, Squirrel. I really understand the bedtime routine thing. I don't have to do it every night but it certainly helps me sleep when I'm stressed. Especially writing down the things that are bothering me.

Miss Darleigh must have some experience of Apergers to understand Rachel so well.

It's lovely that we're getting lots of detail. thank you.

 

#108:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 1:15 pm

Thank you Squirrel.

Can't wait to read the next bit!

 

#109:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 5:36 pm

Thank you Squirrel. I can't wait to find out how Miss Darleigh understands her so well!

 

#110:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 6:20 pm

Thanks for so many wonderful updates, Squirrel. I'm learning a lot about the autistic spectrum.

 

#111:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:01 pm

Thank you Squirrel - this is a wonderful story and a valuable learning experience. I'm glad you're sharing this with us.

 

#112:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:46 pm

Ok then guys, here is another little bit for you to mull over. Anyone formulating any ideas as to just WHY Tamara understands Rachel so well? Ah well, a few more hints scattered through this peice! Ever heard of the phrase that an author tries to make twists more likely by the way that they have worded certain things? Well if you re-read the whole thing, along with this then maybe you will have some idea of what MIGHT happen. I know that I used to do it with authors I knew well. As I came to a certain part of a book I would be expecting some particular thing to occur, and I was proven relatively correct in my assumptions a fair proportion of the time. So lets see if this hint is too broad or not! lol

Chapter 7 – the staff discuss

Miss Annersley was sitting in the staff room with the other mistresses when Tamara entered the room. “Rachel is now happily starting her bedtime routine. She was only worried about bed since her parents had changed her routine rather too abruptly.” Tamara announced as she sat down.

Hilda looked up at her. “Right Tamara. Please explain this to me. While I, with my long acknowledged ability to understand girls was floundering to work out just how to handle Rachel. You, who have always said that finding an understanding of the girls was difficult for you, managed to handle her perfectly and understood exactly how her head was working. Am I going daft or have you suddenly got some newfound perception?”

The younger mistress had been wondering about how she was going to answer this question for a while so she knew exactly how she was planning to respond. After all, the whole truth was no real business of Hilda’s. Nor the rest of the staffroom either. As long as it did not interfere with her work too much then there was no need for any of them to know.

“How did I know what Rachel meant…” She stopped to ponder in the way that the staff had now come to expect from her “Well the first thing is that I have a brother who received a diagnosis of Autism at the age of 3. His diagnosis is High functioning Autism, and while he is different from Rachel in so many ways, there are some places where they connect. So I know bits of what it is like for Rachel by comparing them to the different reactions my brother had.

“However I also know a lot about Aspergers as I was seriously considering going into Special Ed. Now, about Rachel in particular, please can you all be aware that if she sings in class or mouths your words back at you it is not meant to be rude.

“I know that even Hilda put some of Rachel’s tendencies to her being rude. Can I assure you that she is not naturally rude? In fact I think that one of the things that motivates her the most, is an overarching awe for authority and she would never knowingly be rude… Unless you push her so far that as a self preservation instinct she answers you back. I don’t know if Rachel is likely to do that, but I have heard of it occurring from people who do work in Special Ed. Please, go gently with her, and always assume that she means the best by the way that she is acting.

“Now if you don’t mind I’ll head off up stairs. I’ve not had a chance to take a break since I met the girls this morning.” She stood up again, but before she left the room altogether Hilda spoke up. “Tamara. I just want to say thankyou.

“When I came down here I was wondering just why we had let such an ill-mannered rude child in, just to satisfy the current political climate. It was wrong of me and I nearly did immeasurable damage to a girl who has far more than enough to cope with. Why she chose to come here I just don’t know. It strikes me as one of the worst things for her!” there she stopped and Tamara spoke once more before leaving the room.

Chapter 7 – the staff discuss

Miss Annersley was sitting in the staff room with the other mistresses when Tamara entered the room. “Rachel is now happily starting her bedtime routine. She was only worried about bed since her parents had changed her routine rather too abruptly.” Tamara announced as she sat down.

Hilda looked up at her. “Right Tamara. Please explain this to me. While I, with my long acknowledged ability to understand girls was floundering to work out just how to handle Rachel. You, who have always said that finding an understanding of the girls was difficult for you, managed to handle her perfectly and understood exactly how her head was working. Am I going daft or have you suddenly got some newfound perception?”

The younger mistress had been wondering about how she was going to answer this question for a while so she knew exactly how she was planning to respond. After all, the whole truth was no real business of Hilda’s. Nor the rest of the staffroom either. As long as it did not interfere with her work too much then there was no need for any of them to know.

“How did I know what Rachel meant…” She stopped to ponder in the way that the staff had now come to expect from her “Well the first thing is that I have a brother who received a diagnosis of Autism at the age of 3. His diagnosis is High functioning Autism, and while he is different from Rachel in so many ways, there are some places where they connect. So I know bits of what it is like for Rachel by comparing them to the different reactions my brother had.

“However I also know a lot about Aspergers as I was seriously considering going into Special Ed. Now, about Rachel in particular, please can you all be aware that if she sings in class or mouths your words back at you it is not meant to be rude.

“I know that even Hilda put some of Rachel’s tendencies to her being rude. Can I assure you that she is not naturally rude? In fact I think that one of the things that motivates her the most, is an overarching awe for authority and she would never knowingly be rude… Unless you push her so far that as a self preservation instinct she answers you back. I don’t know if Rachel is likely to do that, but I have heard of it occurring from people who do work in Special Ed. Please, go gently with her, and always assume that she means the best by the way that she is acting.

“Now if you don’t mind I’ll head off up stairs. I’ve not had a chance to take a break since I met the girls this morning.” She stood up again, but before she left the room altogether Hilda spoke up. “Tamara. I just want to say thankyou.

“When I came down here I was wondering just why we had let such an ill-mannered rude child in, just to satisfy the current political climate. It was wrong of me and I nearly did immeasurable damage to a girl who has far more than enough to cope with. Why she chose to come here I just don’t know. It strikes me as one of the worst things for her!” there she stopped and Tamara spoke once more before leaving the room.

“On that point Hilda, can I just tell you one other thing I have heard said in relation to a child with this diagnosis?” She continued without waiting for a response. “‘If she decides she wants to do something then you can be sure that she will achieve it. If she decides that she doesn’t want to do it, then you have no chance of persuading her.’ I have no idea if this can be applied to Rachel or not. But I would imagine that it is relatively close.” With that she quit the room and went off up to bed.

.

As imagined this little bit was far easier to write. Its shorter and its not dealing with such a difficutl topic to write. As for detail, well, I guess thats all part of AS! I dont know how else I could write it!

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:51 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#113:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:56 pm

The detail is excellent Squirrel. Thank you for that update - you are teaching me so much in this drabble.

Liz

 

#114:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:03 am

I find the detail fascinating, thanks Squirrel. Its also good to know more about Miss Darleigh.

 

#115:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 11:34 am

This really interesting, Squirrel, thank you so much!

 

#116:  Author: Joan the Dwarf, Location: Er, where am I? PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 11:47 am

Just to pop up and say, this is brilliant!

As for Miss D, well if it's set in the present day, there's been an AS diagnosis available for 9 years. If she's fairly young, say mid-20's, she could've been diagnosed as a teenager or at university. So she's a late-diagnosed Aspie who's got impressive coping skills from the undiagnosed years. Autism in the family (her brother) raises the probability as well. Good luck to her! Can I put in a plea that you develop her character more - I feel very much in need of seeing that us Aspies can cope with adult life, as it doesn't feel that way at the moment Neutral

NB, this comment is spot on:
Quote:
You, who have always said that finding an understanding of the girls was difficult for you, managed to handle her perfectly and understood exactly how her head was working.

this is exactly how I feel with my l'il 3-year-old HFA nephew - no clue what his brother is thinking, but no problem with him.

More! More!

 

#117:  Author: Caroline OSullivan, Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 12:03 pm

Squirrel - thank you. This is brilliant. Very Happy

It's giving me lots of insights as to how to help Helen in the future (my 4 1/2 yr old who has ASD).

Caroline

 

#118:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 12:05 pm

I know what you mean Joan. Sure I'll do my best and coax the bunny. There are a lot of different sites available to help with that feeling. I have recently joined an e-mail list which allowes people with an Asutistic Spectrum Disorder - mainly at uni, or college, or those who have done something similar - the chance to chat with each other and compare notes. If you have not got a similar aid and feel it would help, feel free to PM me and I'll get you the details. I have found it has led to living or at least thinking in aspie land more than I other wise would. Not necesarrily a bad thing that! Oh and my inbox is flooded occasionally! Far more incoming e-mails than I have ever recieved before! I'm glad you think I'm doing alright with it - it has been one of my biggest questions. Whether or not people on the spectrum would feel I was handling it alright. Thanks for the feedback Smile

 

#119:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 12:14 pm

Thank you Squirrel - this is very insightful and interesting.

 

#120:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:18 pm

Hmmmm - who can guess what I have been doing all day...? Well, one thing amongst many, and NOT including revision! tee hee. oops! Here's the next part for you anyhow!

Chp 8 – first full day

Rachel woke up early that morning with her special alarm clock which woke her gently by simulating a sunrise, and was accompanied with the sound of a ‘dawn chorus’. She had taken the precaution of finding out what time the rising bell rang at, and had set the alarm to go have her woken a while before that time so that she had a little time to become acclimatized to being in the school before her ears were jarred by a wakeup call of that kind.

The same alarm had a function which simulated a sun set, and it was the way she managed to relax herself for sleep at night. She sat up in her bed and looked around. She had not had the chance to take in what the room was like the night before.

It wasn’t very big, but that didn’t matter. It actually made her feel very safe there. The colour was a mix of purples, with the floor being very dark purple, but the bedspread being light. It was really very like her room at home.

Yes. Rachel decided. She could relax and live in this room quite happily. A moment later there was a soft tap at the door. Rachel carefully walked over to see who might be there, what she might have to prepare herself to face. When she opened it she sighed in relief. It was Miss Darleigh, she could be natural with her.

“I’m sorry Rachel; I should have warned you last night that I would be coming to call on you this morning. I won’t do it every day, but most girls have others in the dorm keeping them right on the first morning. I could have asked Joanne to do this for you as it is what normally happens, but she lives rather far from here and mornings are a regular scrimmage!

“I also need to warn you that the rising bell will be going in a few minutes time.” Rachel nodded and gestured that the mistress was to come in. Once she had entered Rachel closed the door firmly behind her. “May as well have some muffling of the sound” she commented.

The mistress eyed her quietly, in a way that went over the top of Rachel’s head. “I’ll let you off being out of bed this once, since I knocked at the door, but in future, can you do your best to stay in bed until the bell rings? I know it might be really difficult for you, but it is one of the most important rules of the school that once a girl has gone to bed she stays there until the rising bell rings.

“Unless of course she needs to get up to go to the toilet, or needs to see Matron.” Rachel was not so stressed that she didn’t realize that this was not a row she was receiving. However, stress always arose when she felt that she could be in trouble.

This feeling began to surface at the light comments made by Miss Darleigh, and getting annoyed at her lack of understanding on this specific issue when she recognized the effects of her words, Tamara continued in a different vein.

“Hey Rachel, I’m sorry. This wretched thing means I don’t always get it right when it comes to phrasing what I want to say.” The comment came through and cut through the stress as Tamara had half hoped it might and Rachel smiled secretively to herself again.

Tamara longed to say some more, to turn the relationship she had with the girl into a friendship, but she knew that would be completely unfair to the girl. It was going to be hard enough for her to get used to the various persona’s that existed between mistresses and pupils without Tamara complicating it even more. She turned to and as the rising bell began to ring gave Rachel instructions on what to do in her room.



Thats about as far as I have got for scene ideas in order. I have new ideas for scenes, I just dont know what order they are coming in, nor how they are going to be linked up. Oh and I meant to say "Well Done" to both Patmac and Joan for coming up with the correct explianation for why Tamara Darleigh understands Rachel so well. We shall be seeing more of this link and it may well prove troublesome!

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 11:54 am; edited 2 times in total

 

#121:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:38 pm

'Thank you' seems to be becoming repetitive but it's the simplest way of saying how much I'm enjoying this!

 

#122:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 2:50 pm

Thank you Squirrel!
I'm really enjoying this one. Looking forward to more when you can!

 

#123:  Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 4:30 pm

this is brilliant....thank you!

 

#124:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 5:15 pm

Exellent Squirrel-Thanks!

 

#125:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:44 pm

Well, thats another longish, difficult post. I keep hoping that Rachel will be able to settle down and begin to get on with learning how to cope at the CS, but PB obviously has other ideas. Sooner or later... So we have more misunderstanding and turmoil here! OH well!

Chp 8 In the study

Having successfully got through breakfast Rachel was sent for to go to the Head’s study. When she got there she found that there was a reception committee waiting on her.

The first person she saw as she entered was Miss Darleigh, who gave her a small encouraging smile. Then there was Miss Annersley, and two people she had never seen before in her life. One of them was tall, rather slim, and had black hair, fading to grey which was tied up in plats which, as far as Rachel could tell, were wrapped in circles over her ears. The other person had light reddish hair. She walked with a stick, or rather; there was a stick next to her chair.

Rachel was rather daunted by the number of people in the small room and instinctively went to stand beside the teacher she was most comfortable with. Tamara put her hand on Rachel’s shoulder and spoke gently. “I’m sure this must be difficult for you Rachel, and I apologize that we did not get a message to you to warn you about the number of people who would be here to meet you. If it would help I will go, since the only reason I am here is that I’m the person you know best and it was though it would be good for you to have someone you were relatively comfortable here. If the crowd is too much though I could leave the room though. It would be one person less.”

Rachel smiled up at her uncertainly before speaking. “No, you stay. I’m here because I was asked to come and see the head about my timetable. I’m happy to have you here while I do that. I fail to see any reason why these others need to be here. They can go.” A close observer would have seen that Tamara was aching with suppressed laughter, and that the other adults were so shocked that they didn’t know what to say. In her eagerness that the others didn’t say anything insensitive to Rachel due to this speech Tamara pulled herself together quickly.

“Rachel, honey, I’m sorry, but you really mustn’t say things like that. This is the heads office and it is up to her who stays and who goes. Although I must admit it would seem strange to have strangers present at a meeting between you and your head mistress when you were not expecting them there. Now then, the one with the walking stick…”

At that the mentioned lady’s face went a purple shade. She hated reference to the fact that she could no longer walk unaided. “She is also a head here. Her name is Miss Wilson and your timetable is as much her business as it is Miss Annersleys.

“The other lady is Mrs Maynard. Her sister founded the school while she was about your age and she was the first pupil there. Many of her children have come here, and her grandchildren are in the process of being educated here as well.

“She is also our most famous resident as a published author. I believe that while the popularity of her novels has gone down a lot since she first started to write her books are still in high demand.

“Mrs Maynard is here only because she has an invitation to give you, and she wanted to do it herself so that you had at least met you once. Then she is going to go and talk to her numerous relatives who are still being taught here.”

Rachel didn’t say anything, her whole being was dealing with the information she was receiving and coping with the room which felt crowded even if it wasn’t. Joey decided it was time for her to take a hand.

“Rachel, please accept my apologies for making this harder for you. I merely wanted to invite you over for tea on Saturday. As the oldest girl in the school I make it my business to meet up with every new girl who arrives. So I just came over to invite you and a friend to come and chat with me.

“I can’t offer anything like the kind of thing I did when my own children were younger, but I still like to keep up with each new pupil. I like to keep a connection to the school as it means I can keep my writing more relevant to the issues facing girls today. Now, will you make an old woman happy? Will you choose a friend and come and see me on Saturday?”

“But you are not an old woman!” Rachel exclaimed before turning to Miss Darleigh “Will you come with me? Please?” The tone held a pleading note that the teacher felt it best to respond to.

“If you insist, and Mrs Maynard allows me, then I will come to give you someone else in the room that you know. However you should really go with another girl. How about Joanne? You know her, and seem quite happy in her company.”

Rachel nodded her head. Joanne wasn’t bad, she could cope with her. “Alright. Joanne would be good.” Then her face taught with anxiety she turned back to her future hostess.

“Will there be anyone else there? Please tell me, I need to know”. Joey darted a look at Tamara who nodded and confirmed it. “Yes Jo, it is essential that she is informed of exactly what to expect.”

“Very well Tamara. I will accept your judgment on this. Rachel, Normally I have all the new girls together. However it appears that you are the only new girl this time, so there will be myself, You, Tamara and Joanne.

“My Husband might be around, but he is an incredibly busy man so might not stop for long. The only drawback is that my own family will be popping in and out. My eldest Len is a teacher here as well. Mrs Entwhistle to you of course, and all the nieces have permission to call on me any Saturday of term.”

“Mrs Entwhistles youngest will be 2 next week” said Tamara in an effort to rescue this statement. “Do you like children Rachel?” Rachel responded as Tamara had hoped she might. “Of that age. Yes I like them, just not too many all at once!” Rachel responded. “I like them best when they are just tiny babies.”

Jo smiled happily. “Oh we have one or two of those around as well. My youngest, Phill, has just had a child. Topsy is about 3 months old now! I can arrange for her to be introduced to you if you like?” Rachel nodded shyly. “That would be lovely thankyou” she said in a voice that was a little more than a whisper. Privately she was wondering just how big a family Mrs May might have (she had forgotten the lady’s whole name but knew it was something like that).

“Well I had better be off about my own lawful concerns. Will you have a note sent round to have the family meet up in the hall please Hilda?” The head glanced at her and felt relieved at the chance to get her study back on terms. “Of course Joey. Miss Darleigh, would you mind getting a passing junior or two to round up the clans belonging to her please?”

Her expression made itself eloquent that when she had done that she was also supposed to go about her lawful business. Tamara knew that her head was not best pleased with her, but she didn’t exactly see how she could have done anything differently.

She was about to do as she was bid when Rachel turned round and grabbed hold of her with some force. “NO DON’T GO! Please don’t go. I need you here, Please, Please!” Rachel had let go of her half way through this and was once again huddled up in a ball on the floor.

“Rachel, Rachel love. I’m not going to go anywhere if you want me to stay here. I’m sure that all Miss Annersley was thinking was that it might be a good chance to make this room a little less crowded for you.”

Tamara was on the floor, her arms wrapped around the shaking girl who was once again clinging to her with all her might. She glanced up at the irate mistress standing before her, her eyes flashing and daring her to contradict what had already been said to the girl.

For once Tamara knew exactly what she was thinking and she wasn’t going to let her head away with it. Her prerogative as head to dictate who was present in her study when was not going to take first place, over the needs of this emotionally fragile little girl. Joey with a seraphic smile on her face slipped out of the room, leaving the rest of them to get on with it.

You never know, maybe I'll be able to suit myself when it comes to the flow of events sooner or later! Or perhaps the characters will continue to go their own wicked ways! Oh and please note, As of yet Rachel still has No idea who Joey really is!

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:00 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#126:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:45 pm

Thank you Squirrel. Looking forward to more when you have your links in place.

Liz

 

#127:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 9:49 pm

Hmmmmm. 1 minute difference, would I be right to assume that you finished posting and found another post Liz... If not you are one fast reader/poster! lol

 

#128:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue May 10, 2005 10:25 pm

Am fast reader Squirrel! And I must have found it just as you posted I think.

Liz

 

#129:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 8:19 am

tee hee - lucky you! I guess part of me was judging by the ammount of time it took to write! lol

 

#130:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 11:52 am

Loved the bit about Joey's seraphic smile!!

Having done some work in a special school I know how true this is to life. And I've also watched these children really struggle in ordinary schools, even when they have a full-time assistant. Life can be incredibly hard for them.

Well done, Squirrel. Wink

 

#131:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 11:54 am

Thank you for no less than two episodes!

As for where the story goes, that has to be as the bunny dictates. Every episode tells us more about Rachel and Tamara and they become more real.

More when you can, but don't neglect your revision. We can and will wait.

I wonder how she will react when she discovers who Jo is Wink

 

#132:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 4:06 pm

Thank you very much, Squirrel

I hope Joey will employ her tact and sensitivity when dealing with Rachel - otherwise the resultant misunderstanding could make things very awkward.

 

#133:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 4:12 pm

I don't like Hilda in this! I'm used to her being patient, kind and sympathetic not angry at a girl who has no control over how she feels Crying or Very sad *Pokes Hilda*

Thank you Squirrel, for another lovely post!

 

#134:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 6:07 pm

Agrees with Kat. I don't understand Hilda in this. She should be able to accept that sometimes other people might know more than she does.

Having said which, this is amazing, Squirrel. I'm learning so much. Thank you.

 

#135: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:14 pm

Brilliant, Squirrel - you are teaching us so much about the challenges facing Rachel and others like her. And I apologise in advance if that is a politically incorrect statement.

Seriously, I congratulate you for having the courage to write it, and thank you for educating the rest of us, especially those of us who don't know very much about this syndrome.

I agree that Hilda isn't used to having her authority challenged, but suspect that as Tamara continues her efforts to show her just what is best for Rachel, she will gain more understanding.

More, please, whenever the bunny bites.

 

#136:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:18 pm

Sad - Have had to agree for the sake of exams to limit my non-exam related computer time to an hour a day. You will understand that this will impact on the ammount of drabble writing/posting I am able to do. Will try to post a bit every few days though.

 

#137:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2005 9:55 pm

I'm sure Hilda will understand soon... after all, the Staff can't have been reading up about ASD just by accident, presumably it came from her or Nell or someone that they had to prepare for Rachel, in which case they themselves would know something about her condition?

 

#138:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2005 2:24 pm

That's ok Squirrel, I think however much we don't like admitting it, exams to take priority over drabbles!

Hope they go well Smile

 

#139:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2005 6:34 pm

Thanks Squirrel - I hope the exams go well and we will wait patiently until you are able to tell us more.

Liz

 

#140:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:00 pm

MaryR wrote:
Loved the bit about Joey's seraphic smile!!

Having done some work in a special school I know how true this is to life. And I've also watched these children really struggle in ordinary schools, even when they have a full-time assistant. Life can be incredibly hard for them.

Well done, Squirrel. Wink

I work in a special school and even with small classes the autisic kids still can struggle.Not just people either, the walls have to be quite plain-something ofsted doen't get Evil or Very Mad .I have also worked in a special needs respite unit and they were delayed registration because the basic 'autistic' room wasn'ty decorated Confused

 

#141:  Author: tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Sat May 14, 2005 9:41 pm

Hi squirrel

i am really enjoying this. I am wondering if you or anyone else on the board has read 'the incident of the dog in the nighttime'? it is written from the point of view of a teenage boy with aspergers.

 

#142:  Author: Marianne, Location: Lancaster PostPosted: Sun May 15, 2005 8:29 pm

I have!
Interesting book...

 

#143:  Author: Guest,  PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 6:06 pm

I really enjoyed it. It seems quite a good depiction of Aspergers to me, but I was interested to see what other people thought.

Hope the revision is going well squirrel

 

#144:  Author: tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 6:07 pm

Oops. Forgot to log in Embarassed

 

#145:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2005 11:28 am

Thank you, Squirrel, loads of brilliant posts since I last logged on *oh, the dreaded revision* Keep up the good work, looking forward to more!

 

#146:  Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2005 7:49 pm

Did anyone (in the UK...) see tonight's Junior Mastermind?

Was won by a boy with Aspergers who said he wanted to prove to people that he was just as good as them!

Not sure when the final is, but he may well be in it...

 

#147:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2005 8:50 pm

I did. He was very good.

 

#148:  Author: niscii, Location: Sunny Edinburgh PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2005 10:01 pm

Just caught up with a load of this, its great! I've never heard of the condition but looked it up after reading this, from the little I've read about it your doing a fab job of fitting it into a Chalet School setting. Plus I can now possibly get away with calling drabble reading educational AND fun Very Happy

Really looking forward to more of this.

ETA: the boy who won mastermind's specialist topic was Star Wars i think? He had to win, who wouldn't use the force in that situation?

 

#149:  Author: Sarah_G-G, Location: Sheffield (termtime), ? any other time! PostPosted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:38 am

This is really fascinating to read. Thank you.

 

#150:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 1:15 pm

Hi all, you are welcome. I've never read any of the books you have been talking about. I might at some point I suppose. Just a bit of an update for now, still got another exam to go - on Wednesday afternoon. Fun! I'm not forgetting about Rachel, but I'm having to take my time with her. RL can get in the way besides exams as well! Oh well, this time next week and I'll be completely exam free! Very Happy

Tamara didn’t know how best to defuse the situation. She had to cut the emotions in the room before anything else was said that might possibly hurt Rachel. She was at a loss though. She knew that some people could defuse a situation of this kind without overstepping the boundary lines, but she was not one of them.

Luckily help was at hand. Having had a few minutes to get used to this highly unusual situation Nell Wilson was ready to use her knowledge of her friend to ease the situation.

“Hilda, why don’t you ring for some tea? I think that Rachel may need something to steady her again. Tamara, I can only thank you that you seem to have such an understanding of Rachel that you are able to accept it when her behavior goes over the usual lines and support her when she needs it. I’m sure that there are some things that you are not telling us about yourself, but I am too pleased with the way you are coping in this situation to worry about that. Rachel.”

She stopped for a minute before taking hold of her stick and moving forwards to kneel beside the shaking girl. “I’m sorry that we have been so insensitive to your needs. Would it be easier for you if we moved to a slightly bigger room now? Miss Darleigh will remain with us. As long as you need her she will stay here.”

Rachel looked up at her with a tearstained face. “Thank you Miss…” She broke off again, confusion flickering over her face. “I’m Miss Wilson” the lady informed her. “Now do you think that you could stand up and sit down on a seat, or would that be one step too far?”

Rachel eased her hold on Tamara, and as the mistress loosed her protective hold of her, she stood up as an answer. As she did so her arms came in close to her body as an instinctive protection, but she went calmly over to the seat that was pointed out to her and sat down in it. She was then presented with a damp cloth to sponge her face and hands with. That done she was handed a cup of tea and they went to work with the timetable.

Neither Rachel, or Tamara who went to stand behind the seat Rachel was sitting on, heard the aside comment that Nell made to Hilda as she was pouring the tea. “I’ll talk to you later Hilda Annersley, and we are going to get to the bottom of this before we are finished.

“Just you remember that this is a child put in our care to love as her parents love her, no matter what her faults might appear to be. She cannot help the way she is acting, and it is up to us to try and help her fit in.”


Thats it for now, I'll see when I can get back in again

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:04 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#151:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 1:19 pm

Thanks, Squirrel, it was good to see Nell taking charge.

Wibbles, does this mean that my superheroine is fallible?

 

#152:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 5:08 pm

Great post, Squirrel. It's interesting to see Miss Annersley's understanding can't get to where it needs to be and Nell's can.

Good luck with the exam.

 

#153:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:35 pm

Looks like Miss Wilson has this one sussed - although I have to say I'm slightly scared by the fact that Miss A can't cope

she can cope with anything, can't she?

 

#154:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:28 am

I'm still really enjoying this, and would second the recommendations for "incident of the dog..." - it's helped me get a clearer understanding of a friend's son, too.

 

#155:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 7:02 am

Fantastic post thanks.
What's going on with Miss A. Is there something in her past making her act this way?
Good luck with any exams you might have left.

 

#156:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 7:36 am

Thank you. Squirrel, for finding the time to update us on Rachel, but I am very worried about what you are doing to my heroine. Why can't Hilda cope? She can cope with anything - can't she? Shocked


Well done, Nell, for stepping into the breach and understanding that her friend can't cope at the moment.

Good luck with that exam.

 

#157:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 8:26 am

hmmm - pb has a few ideas for that one, dont worry, explianations will come sooner or later! Possibly before wednesday, I'll see how nice I'm feeling! Twisted Evil ... or at least how long I can wait before I want to gauge a reaction to what I have down! lol Twisted Evil Twisted Evil

 

#158:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:39 pm

Thanks Squirrel Very Happy Im finding it interesting that it's Hilda who is struggling to cope and I am looking forward to seeing how she learns to adjust.

 

#159:  Author: Joan the Dwarf, Location: Er, where am I? PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 1:24 pm

I've always preferred Bill over Miss A (*ducks*), so I like the way this is heading!

 

#160:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 1:44 pm

Thanks Squirrel - lovely update. It's good to see that the people you think might automatically cope with everything are fazed by Rachel.

Liz

 

#161:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 6:22 pm

Brilliant Squirrel! Am very pleased that Nell is taking charge of Hilda!

 

#162:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 8:13 am

Thanks, Squirrel.

Actually, I think it's very realistic that Hilda can't cope - everyone has a sticking point somewhere, and if Hilda has never had much exposure to the autistic spectrum or if there's something in her past that makes it hard for her, I can see why it would be this.

 

#163:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:53 pm

Hmmmm. With that it might be just as well to continue then!

Chapter 9 – Hilda’s confession

In the study a different scene was occurring. Nell was facing Hilda, a compassionate look on her face, but one with a hint of severity in it as well. “Well, Hilda Annersley, what have you got to say for yourself?” She demanded. “Was it this that was behind your apparent reluctance to let the poor child in when we received the letter from her father?” Silence. “Come on Hilda, what’s at the bottom of all this? I know you, you don’t just act like this for any old reason, teachers usurping your authority or not”

Hilda glanced up and seeing the look upon her face Nell changed her tone. “Come on Hilda love, we have worked together for many many years now. I am closer to you than to anyone else. I love you unconditionally, and I’m not going to leave off this until you tell me what is troubling you here.” The response when it came was in fits and starts, short incomplete sentences that were so unlike the teacher who loved the diversity of the English language.

“I don’t know… Never thought could tell anyone this… Can I?... Got the confidence?... My Brother… My poor little Brother…” This, little enough though it was gave Nell her starting point. “You mean Hughie?”

“Hughie, yes Hughie. My Brother... Stolen at birth, well maybe not birth… Called an idiot… Not let into school… Loving little boy… We visited him in the holidays. He was always like that… He would cling to me” This last with pride and affection beginning to come into her voice. “But then they told me that I had better stop visiting as I upset his routine. He would never settle in once I had been to visit.

“I got taught that children like Hughie were merely badly behaved. They didn’t belong in society the way that the rest of the world did. That it wasn’t that they were having difficulty coping, it was just that they were not a useful part of society.

“They were to be hidden away and forgotten about, leave worrying about them to those unfortunates who had to look after them. Not too nicely either. The way their carers looked after them I mean. I saw him as an adult once. Just before he died. Still happy and smiling. Still Loving, accepting. And still overjoyed to see me. Even after that long he recognized and remembered me.

“Each time I see her I see him in her. Then I hear the matron of that home telling me that he’s just being a naughty boy, that there is nothing I can do to help him, and I had better go and let them discipline him again. Each time I hear her cry out as its all got too much I can hear them disciplining him and I feel torn, part of me calling out to try and rescue my brother, and part of me agreeing with them, saying that he shouldn’t behave in the way he was behaving, that he deserved their punishment. That he wasn’t adequate as he was. He needed to fit into the moulds of society. I know all that you reminded me of. And I love her as I love him, but one part of me is overwritten by this.

“I also beat myself up over my lack of understanding each time a situation I have created makes Rachel uncomfortable, and that means that I find it so hard to respond well when Tamara plunges in each time and manages to give her just the comfort she needs.”

Nell looked at her quietly before responding “Yes… Tamara… I get the feeling that she has not been straight with us… I’m seeing a lot of Tamara in Rachel, and vice-versa. I know that there are differences, well there is about 5 years or so between them age wise, that isn’t all that much you know, but what I was going to say is that there are certain ways they act in different situations that makes one remind me of the other.

“You remember the way Tamara reacted when the classroom she usually teaches in became unusable?” Hilda could only stare at Nell, her mind beginning to make the connections that Nell was pointing out to her. “Yes, yes I do… She became quiet and withdrawn, and near enough refused to teach in any room but the room she was used to teaching in. She also tends to withdraw into her own room when she is not teaching. Not all the time I give you, but often enough to draw comment from the other staff members when she turns up in the staffroom.”

“Oh not anymore. She has her days sorted out into a routine now. The staff knows that she will stay away from the staffroom altogether at weekends, and in the evenings in general. However they also know that she will be in at break times during the day. And on a Thursday and Friday she makes an extra effort and turns up in the staffroom in the evenings. But yes, she is a bit of a hermit at times. Just the breaks she needs from people contact in our kind of stressful job.”

“I think we need to have a word with Tamara Darleigh” Hilda responded, her hand hovering above the buzzer she had located on her desk. Nell gently put her hand over Hilda’s, stopping her from touching the buzzer. “Yes” she agreed “but not right now, Tamara has had quite as stressful a morning as Rachel. I think she will probably need a break right now.”

Hilda nodded and chuckled. “you know, I think I do actually understand a bit more about how they feel. I don’t know about you, but I feel as if I could go to bed nicely now!” Nell smiled at her gently. “Yes Hilda, you probably do know exactly how they are feeling at the moment. I know that I am as well. However, it’s a little while until lunch, so I am going for a lie down. Will you join me in having a rest or do you have to get on with the paperwork?” In answer Hilda stood up, and they both left the room


Well, thats the explianation out. Will start again when I next have the chance, probably wednesday evening unless I get bitten hard between then and now

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#164:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:21 pm

Wow, Squirrel. I know that's inadequate, but I can't think of anything else to say!

Thank you so much. That explains a lot!

 

#165:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:54 pm

Am glad Tamara has found her own way of coping with the rigours of teaching life Smile

Thanks Squirrel!

 

#166:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:58 am

Poor Hilda and poor Hilda's brother. That's so sad and so true to the times.

I'm loving Nell in this. I like the way Tamara has found her own way of coping and made a routine which allows her the time she needs to be alone and find her balance.

 

#167:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:47 am

This is great Squirrel, really original. I know nothing about autism so this is really interesting. More soon please!

 

#168:  Author: Emma A, Location: The Soke of Peterborough PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 12:28 pm

I've just read all of this, and am really impressed, Squirrel. The bit about Miss Annersley's brother reminds me very much of the description of the horrible home in William Horwood's Skallagrigg, though in that book the children have cerebral palsy. I'm hoping that Rachel can cope with the school, and that she is able to connect her favourite author with Mrs Maynard before she goes to tea there.

Thank-you.

 

#169:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 12:52 pm

Thanks Squirrel - poor Hilda & Hughie Crying or Very sad

Liz

 

#170:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 1:12 pm

What did I say about bunny bites!!!!! Oh well. I enjoyed it, even if it was at rather the wrong time! Was still trying to write while I was settling to sleep. I've not even tried to recover that yet, it will just have to wait until tomorrow night! Thanks for all the feedback, its good to know how people feel its holding up! Please let me know if stuff starts to appear too far fetched!

Chapter 10

Tamara herself realized that the time had come for her to be rather more forthcoming with her heads. She just did not know how to go about letting down the barriers she had carefully constructed.

Her life had been a process of carefully fitting herself into the social structures for so long that she just didn’t know how she was going to do it. Not without letting out some of the turmoil that occasionally rose up inside her. She shook herself as she thought this.

She was a professional now. She was supposed to act in a certain way. One of the reasons she had chosen a boarding school for her place of work was the illusion that she was always at work. Being ‘at work’ made even the difficult things she would have avoided in the past possible. It also had the down side of meaning that she found it really difficult to relax.

She had made one or two closish acquaintances, but had not achieved anything friendlier. This she felt was due to her own perceptions of what was work and what wasn’t. Also she seemed to have a sub-conscious perception that the people who were friendliest to her were the ones who were on a different level to her. In this establishment that would have meant the heads.

There was one person she could talk over difficulties with she realized. She had been nice enough, and could count as being on that level by being a certain amount older than Tamara was. She could see that she was going to have to re-educate herself. She had known it for a long time, but had had to rationalize by saying that it was far more important that she start by developing coping strategies that would allow her to function in the place she was in before she began to look at other issues. Now she just had to work out how she was going to approach her.

Realizing that she wasn’t going to get any rest until she had taken the plunge Tamara stood up and walked over to the door of her little room. No doubt she would cause a sensation by turning up in the staffroom at this time, but there were times when she had to change her routine, however much she might have hated it.

Rachel was at that time trying to relax herself enough to sleep. The day had brought a procession of new events and ideas. The experiences were whirling round in her head, not allowing her to rest. She sighed as she lay there wondering what she ought to do in this situation when she was in school.

She knew that one of the strictest rules was that they were to stay in bed once they had got there. She was really pleased that she was in a room on her own as she knew that she was easily distracted by different noises when she was in this state. She stretched and looked around her.

Surely there must be something she could do to work out this thought frenzy. Her laptop computer caught her eye. Yes that had always helped in the past. Without another thought for the stay in bed rule she silently moved across the room and switched it on.

The staff were very surprised to see Tamara when she entered the room. It was obvious to the more perceptive of them that she was very tired and also not really feeling like talking to people. They had got to know Tamara quite well now and had found a way to deal with her when she was in these moods.

Len Entwhistle was always the first one to approach her. She seemed to be able to get the tone just right, and would find out if there was any particular reason for Tamara joining the staff when she would obviously prefer to be elsewhere.

As Len had said to one of her own particular friends “She knows when she has the emotional capacity to interact with us, and when it is better for her to withdraw. It is up to us to respect that, and on those occasions when it seems to us that she is purposefully choosing not to do what is best for her there has to be an underlying motive.

“After all, she wouldn’t choose to make things worse for herself as coming into the staff room so obviously does. She is a highly rational creature and only does things because it seems the best way forwards for her. I don’t know what other options she might have, but it could be that she is looking for something and cannot resolve whatever issue she is dealing with without outside input.”

Once Len had managed to get beneath her skin, the others would join in if they felt that it was a good idea. They didn’t quite understand this unusual staff member, but as Kathy Ferrars had said to Nancy Wilmot “She’s a rum fish, but she can do the job adequately and handle the girls without any bother which is the main thing.

“The rest of us will just have to put up with her idiosyncrasies.” To which Nancy had responded “Just you be glad that the heads didn’t hear you say that my dear, they might have had one or two things to say about the idiosyncrasies of your language”, causing Kathy and her other listeners to gurgle with laughter.

On this occasion Len found that it was almost impossible to drag anything out of her while the other mistresses were listening in, so she suggested that the younger mistress should come for a walk with her.

Tamara who had been struggling with trying to open up enough to talk agreed quietly and the two of them went outside. Len breathed a quick prayer for help before she started to talk. “Tamara, are you alright?” She started tentatively feeling instinctively that she was going about this in the wrong way.

Tamara walked along beside her, looking for the best way to answer the question. “Um… Kind-of”. Len looked at her sharply. “Kind of?” she questioned. “Well that doesn’t tell me very much!”

Len was rather surprised that Tamara responded by giggling naturally. “I’m sorry” she forced out when she had recovered herself a little. “But you so reminded me of my days in Uni. There were some people there who would ask me how I was rather regularly, in the same kind of context. And they always got that kind of response. Your questioning me about it reminded me of them, that’s all”. Len quickly grasped that this might well be a way in to what was troubling the other mistress and turned to question her about it.

“Would you mind coming up to my room. If you wouldn’t mind, I’ll tell you all about it there.” Len acquiesced and they turned to head on up stairs.

Chapter 11 - the end of the day

Rachel breathed a sigh of relief once she had finished and closed the laptop down again. She didn’t know what the authorities would have said to her about that, but it was one of her few releases when her mind was uptight and not settling so she had decided she wasn’t that bothered.

If they wanted her to get any sleep at all that night then she was just going to have to do things in the way she normally did. She sighed and slipped back into bed again. As she did so she heard two people walking down the corridor talking quietly.

The first voice was too low for her to hear anything properly, or distinguish an owner. Then the second broke in a little louder in such a way that Rachel having such sensitive hearing literally couldn’t help but understand the words. Her drowsiness also stopped her putting her hands over her ears, if she had even thought about it, which was doubtful. It wasn’t that she was naturally dishonourable, she just didn’t think about what it might mean to others that she had heard something.

“Hang on a moment. You say someone sat and talked to you about how you were doing in the establishment you were in on a weekly basis. And that you worked together to find out the best thing possible for you. You mean like a mentor person. Would this be something that would be useful for Rachel”

The voice was getting rather high in pitch due to excitement, although it stayed low in volume. “Um… Rachel… mentor… um… I don’t know. Don’t ask me to do it though, I’d have difficulty keeping that kind of relationship on track. Its hard enough just now, but I know how close I got to those who supported me where I was.” Then the voice stopped for a moment, just to start again in a hushed tone.

“Look, can we discuss this some other point, in some other place. Preferably not when we are right outside her bedroom door!” A low pitched gasp reached Rachel and a muffled exclamation “but surely she will be asleep by this time!”

“not necessarily” the other person responded. “And from personal experience I would guess that today has been the kind of day that would keep her awake if any day does. I think from what I have seen that Rachel is likely to be a worrier, as I am, and that makes for little sleep sometimes.

“In fact, if you don’t mind waiting, I’ll go and check on her.” Rachel was glad she was lying still in bed. The door slowly opened and a by now very familiar figure walked slowly over to the bed. The mistress moved over to her and sat gently on the edge of the bed, smiling down at her.

“Still awake then?” The voice held a smile in it and Rachel looked sleepily up at her. “Yes, still awake” she agreed. “You were talking about me” She challenged her. “Well… Yes… I hope you don’t mind it. One of the topics that comes up occasionally is how best to support different students. It happens about all the girls at some point in their school careers.

“Its just happened with you rather earlier than usual as the change from home to school has been rather harder than most other girls have to face. So we talk about how we can help you to settle down here. You could be ill if we cant keep your stress levels down.

“You do great, but you need a bit of a hand sometimes.” Then the voice dropped a little lower “We both do” Rachel, her tiredness forgotten for the moment impulsively reached out and grabbed her hand. “You do great. Honestly Miss Darleigh, I couldn’t cope here without you.

“I thought I would love it here, and I do, it’s great. But having experienced it I know that without you in the background I would not be coping here. I can settle down and feel safe, cause you are here. I don’t have to be with you each day. I do need to know that you are here.”

Tamara blushed, remembering herself a few years earlier, it felt funny being on the other side of this relationship for once. A different perspective completely to what she was used to. Then she spoke.

“I know you had to say that my dear, cause I used to have things like that bottled up inside me when people would not let me thank them for the support they had given me. I can only say thank you for the compliment you are paying me with those words. I will try to live up to the standards we have set before us, but I am only a fallible human. I get things wrong so often.

“Now, its time for you to be sleeping. I hope that this has helped to quiet your mind. If you find thoughts come to flood it again why don’t you try turning to the book of psalms. I have found that a good way to relieve my mind in the past. Dwell on the word of God, not on the thoughts that fill your mind.”

“miss Darleigh…” The voice was again edged with sleep.
“Yes Rachel”?
“Could you please write that last sentence or so of yours down, so that I don’t forget them?”
“yes of course I could”

The mistress turned on a small torch she carried with her at all times that late at night, and brought out a scrap of paper and a pen. She carefully wrote down her last few words of advice, and pinned them to the notice board in the corner of Rachel’s room. The girl never noticed her going as she was sound asleep by the time the mistress pulled the door closed behind her.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:38 pm; edited 2 times in total

 

#171:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 6:32 pm

Aww, their relationship is lovely Smile

 

#172:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 6:39 pm

Thanks Squirrel its interesting to see how Tamara is coping with working and her developing relationship with Rachel.

 

#173:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:43 pm

I have just read the last two posts together,Squirrel, and they are so moving.

The scene with Hilda and Nell was enlightening about how such children used to be treated - and clearly difficult for Hilda to talk about. But I'm glad Nell dragged it out of her.

Tamara and Rachel make a beautiful team, both giving to the other.

Thank you, Squirrel.

 

#174: Rachel Challenges the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:09 pm

Echoes Mary's comments here. It's a good thing that we are reminded of how children like Hughie were treated in those days - which certainly explains Hilda's initial reaction to Rachel and even to Tamara. But now, having told Nell about Hughie, I've no doubt she will try really hard to understand Rachel and Tamara, and realise that Tamara is just trying to help.

I love the way the relationship between Rachel and Tamara is developing, too.

And why am I not surprised that the one staff member who really seems to be able to 'touch' Tamara is Len? I think there is the foundation for a really firm friendship there, which can only help Tamara.

Clearly, too, the other staff members respect her needs and allow her the space to relate to them when she can and withdraw when she must.

Squirrel, this is developing beautifully and you are teaching us so much about this syndrome as the story unfolds. Thank you for sharing this with us.

 

#175:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 8:38 am

Like everyone else, Squirrel, I am learning so much about this syndrome. Thanks for educating us in such an entertaining way!

 

#176:  Author: Joan the Dwarf, Location: Er, where am I? PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 10:05 am

My secret couriered supply of bunny treats laced with caffeine obviously worked... devil

This is so good!

*dispatches new order bunnywards*

 

#177:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:54 am

well just to finish off this day from the perspective of Tamara, here we go. I'll have to start looking at fresh stuff again in a little while I think! Or rather get the bunny to tell me how its supposed to continue.

Neither mistress spoke until they were safely ensconced in the younger ones bedroom. “I don’t know why you say you will not be the one to support Rachel, its obvious that you get on great together.

“You understand her so well and will know how to deal with her instinctively. The rest of us would have to go through a long learning process that would be bad for her to deal with.”

Tamara looked at her, rather upset at this. “Oh Len. The strengths you are talking of there are part of the problem. If I support Tamara I will not be able to draw the line between professional giving support to client, or teacher supporting pupil if you will have it that way, and friendship.

“My biggest worry is that our relationship will go beyond the acceptable pupil teacher relationship despite all I can do. Rachel doesn’t need that. She needs friends who are friends and teachers who are teachers.

“Yes she will need a very special relationship with the person who does support her, but that person must be able to be someone who can give her bad news as well as good. Someone who can hold out a choice to her, and make it a stark choice whatever the issue. A choice but no choice if you see where I am going with this?

“I, as this person could not do that. My response to hurt is automatic comfort. I am not free at the times that Rachel needs that support to be available. I will do what I can for her sure. But I cannot offer her the one on one time she is going to need to make a success of her life here.”

”but my dear Tamara, What do you think you were just doing there? You were offering that child exactly the kind of support we are talking about there. You were not acting as a pupil, nor as a teacher. In some ways you were acting like a mother my dear, and whatever you may have had as a student, right now Rachel needs a mother substitute. A mother has to do all of those things too you know.”

“Oh please don’t say that! All I was trying to do was remove some of the issues that were upon her mind. So that she could get some sleep. I never had that admittedly, but then I was never away from home until I left school. Rachel should not need that again now, she has another way through it, a coping strategy, of that I am certain.

“That was about letting her sleep, and my coming to the staffroom was about letting me sleep… And all I seem to have done is collected more issues to worry about!!!!!

“Alright Len thanks for your help. I guess I’ll have to see this through some way or another”.

Seeing that there was little chance of Tamara opening up on the subject that she had first come looking for advice on in her present state of mind, Len stood up. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help tonight Tamara. Listen, why don’t we meet up to discuss it at break time tomorrow? We could go to my office and have a bit of a chat.

“Oh and I guess that if you are thinking about lying awake worrying about all of this you can just think again. Remember the Psalms you said to Rachel, it might be time for you to take on board some of your own advice.” With that she left the room much to the relief of Tamara who was beginning to need some time on her own again.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:33 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#178: Rachel Challenges the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:19 pm

Another great episode, Squirrel - I love the way Tamara expresses her concerns over what she should or should not be doing to help Rachel. Not quite sure whether she fully understands what Len is getting at in her response, but she probably needs to think it over to see the points.

It's also great that Len has enough empathy to realise that Tamara needs time alone, and leaves her before Tamara is put in the position of needing to ask her to go - am sure this relationship will go far as it develops.

Looking forward to more.

 

#179:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sat May 28, 2005 6:43 pm

I echo all Elder says above, Squirrel. Tamara sees so clearly the different types of support that Rachel needs and is obviously torn as she wants to give the support.

Hopefully Len might be able to sort some of this out for her.

Thank you, Squirrel. Looking forward to more.

 

#180:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 5:49 am

Hey there, not a hundred percent sure about this, but there you go! Thanks guys, its good to see what people think some of the time, and it helps when things get hard for a bit!

Tamara settled herself for sleeping. She wasn’t sure how she was going to quiet her mind down, or if it was even a good idea right now. Sometimes night time was the only time that she had in which she was able to consider the day, and things people had said.

Often she found that she couldn’t during the day as her mind was busy on its own tracks, or she was so stressed out that objective thinking was beyond her. When her mind started up at night time though it was often different, the really important things would come then and she could actually give herself the time to consider them properly.

Tamara knew herself well enough by now to know that she couldn’t help who she was as a person. She knew that being the person she was she wasn’t going to be able to change the way that she was dealing with Rachel at this precise moment, nor was Rachel at a place that Tamara could withdraw without risking serious hurt to the girl. Tamara knew that she could manage to continue to give what she was to the girl, but was also aware that she was at her limit.

Now Len was suggesting that she was the person to give Rachel support in school. Tamara would have loved to do it, but she wasn’t sure she had the necessary qualities, or that it would have been fair to either herself or Rachel for her to try.

As she was pondering a question that was too big for her to answer a thought come into her head. She could always run it by them… She knew that they wouldn’t really mind… But… She gave it up knowing that she would only ask them after checking that it really was ok. After all, they were no longer working with her, even if she did keep in touch with them and let them know how things were going. She had a funny feeling that they were going to be very interested in what was happening here at the moment. It would probably be a situation that would interest them immensely.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:35 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#181:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 6:05 am

I see Squirrel is another early riser Wink

Thank you Squirrel. I really like Tamara and the maturity she shows -
Quote:
Tamara knew herself well enough by now to know that she couldn’t help who she was as a person.


I'm wondering who 'they' are?

I'm also wondering if Len is going to cause problems by asking too much of Tamara.

 

#182:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:36 am

What a wonderfully reflective piece, Squirrel, revealing just how hard it must be for her during the day when she has no space to sort out which way to go.

I do hope whoever *they* are can point her in the right direction to help Rachel - and herself.

Thank you, Squirrel. Smile

 

#183:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:40 am

Ok, who can guess what I have spent most of the morning doing so far! Blaming the plot bunny! Have to get ready to go now though, so it may be a bit before I have the chance to get back to it again - Have to get on wth the unpacking now that I am back at home again too.

Chapter 12 – Settling down

The next week was a hectic one for all concerned. As the second day of term there was still some classroom stuff to be done, and odds and ends of unpacking had to be sorted out as well. Then the work of the day began and the work of finding out exactly how much the girls had managed to forget over the holidays began.

Rachel of course had had nothing to forget. However she had a good memory and found that there was little she needed to catch up on. Her co-ordination was poor and so she found writing to be a difficulty. That being the case she was set up with a laptop on which she did all of her work.

The staff soon found however that they had to make sure that the stretched her, or she would fall into doing only as much as it took to satisfy them. It wasn’t really that she was lazy; it was just that so much of her energy was taken up by other parts of life that she found it was easier to relax sometimes.

She still managed to get good grades and come quite far up the form lists, and sometimes the teachers admitted that they would love to shake her as she turned out to be one of those people who seems to give absolutely no attention to a class and yet manages to give you back verbatim what you have just told them. That they would have been better to check to make sure that she had understand what she was saying was something that had not occurred to them yet.

Miss Darleigh was yet to have Rachel for a class and so she had not picked up on this possible difficulty. This not yet was soon to be rectified, and Rachel and Tamara were going to find out how well their developing relationship would fit into the classroom setting.

Rachel was sitting next to Joanne, that young lady having thoroughly taken her under her wing. “After all” she had said to her own group of friends “She’s lonely enough when she isn’t with us. And she is a friendly enough young thing.” She had concluded regardless of the fact that Rachel was actually a good few months older than herself. So Rachel had found herself adopted by the foursome and would happily attach herself to the group when she wanted some company, or go off by herself when she felt the need to withdraw.

Rachel’s apparent cohesion with this group of girls had already caused some comment in the staff room. “You know, it’s great that Rachel has such a close group of friends already. From what we were reading it would seem that such a thing would be very unlikely.” Thus Jessica Lawson who had been at the school for a good 10 years by this stage.

Tamara looked up and sighed. Was she going to have to go through all this again? She sat thinking for a minute. Would it really harm Rachel if she didn’t explain what it was like to make ‘friends’ when you were on the spectrum? Tamara had been watching the growth of the ‘friendship’ and was convinced that this one was more or less a matter of habit for Rachel.

She was in that group because they had chosen to keep her with them. From Rachel’s point of view, as long as they were reasonably friendly, it didn’t matter which group of girls she was with.

Force of habit pulled her into the conversation at this point. “Oh, I don’t know that Rachel would see it as a strong friendship. Not in the way that you are thinking. Its more the friendliness of the girls which is highlighted here rather than Rachel’s ability to make friends.

“I don’t have to keep telling you that I cant speak for definite, after all I am not in Rachel’s head, but I would imagine that for Rachel it is more like being part of a group, but also not being part of the group. I’m sorry I don’t explain it very well.”

The other teachers had been slowly watching Tamara’s growth into the schools ‘autism expert’ with a mixture of attitudes. Some of them were merely relieved that she was willing to talk about such a difficult subject, and bring a new perspective on it. One or two were beginning to feel resentful that this newest staff member was beginning to criticize the way they worked so often.

“And since When did You know anything about Autism?” the question was cold and cutting. Tamara held up her head and faced her attacker. “Audrey, Please. Why are you questioning me like that? If I have done anything wrong…”

“Done anything wrong! You have been here a year, and while you seemed to know what was expected of you as staff baby in the past, you seem to have forgotten that now. Look, why don’t you leave the worrying about what pupils are thinking to those who have been here a little longer.

“You made enough of a muddle of it when you first came, so who made you such an expert? Pipe down again and let us deal with Rachel. After all if we left it to you the poor girl would probably end up on information overload or whatever that is!”

“Information overload is a state whereby a person cannot take in any more information and may well find that part of their system shuts down. It depends on the kind of overload, and on the person, what exactly this means, but it is not funny to either experience it or to have to deal with a person who is suffering from it.

“It changes the way they cope with life and the way that you have to deal with them changes as well.

“Rachel went into information overload the first night she was here, and she became immensely touch sensitive.”

Tamara put her hand over her mouth to stop her saying anything more, as the person who was attacking her stood up looking very angry. “Would you Stop telling me how to do my Job!”

Tamara got up herself and ran from the room. She was upset to the point of not being able to see where she was going. It would be the case that Rachel and the group who had taken her on happened to be passing in the opposite direction on their way to another class.

Rachel saw that there was a problem and left the girls she was with. “Rachel, what about class?” Vicki called after her. “You go! I’ll catch up later on!” Rachel called back as she followed the teacher in the direction she had gone.

“Tamara!” she called after the teacher. Tamara stopped. What on earth was she going to do now? The girl’s arms came about her in an embrace. “Oh Tamara, what’s wrong?”

“Nothings badly wrong honey” Tamara responded. “Someone just said something that upset me a little, that’s all”. “That’s all? NO that’s not all. No one has any right to say anything that upsets you. No one. Did they mean to hurt you?”

Tamara sighed and put her hand on Rachel’s back to give her some more reassurance. “I don’t think they did, but they were very angry. You’ll learn as you get older that many people can say things that they don’t really mean when they are angry like that. She is probably feeling as bad as I do now.

“And she must have been feeling very upset for a while now for her to open up in the way that she did. Now don’t worry about it Rachel, I’ll be alright now. I promise.”

She stopped talking and closed her eyes for a moment as she took the time to think on what she should do next in this situation. Then a memory came to her aid.

“Did someone say something about a class when you came tearing after me Rachel?” The girl nodded her head against the mistress rather than saying anything.

“Rachel, what’s up? Is there something wrong?” Rachel looked up at her. “I don’t want to leave you. Not now.” Tamara looked down at her and smiled gently. “Ah, but sometimes we all have to do things that we don’t want to. Do you know your way?”

Rachel shook her head and looked down at the floor. “hey, its alright not to know where you are going, you’ve not been here 2 days yet. Still, we had better get you there anyway. Do you know if the class is in your form room, or is it one of the special classrooms?”

“I don’t know” Rachel’s voice was low and had a special quality to it that warned the mistress that there was more to this than she was letting on. “What’s up Rachel. Can you tell me about it?”

Tamara was silently wishing for someone who could do this better. Miss Annersley or Len or someone who did not find this sort of thing so draining. The clues she was struggling to follow at the moment were ones that they would pick up on far more easily. “Rachel surprised her therefore in her response. No, its too much for you. You have had more than enough just now.”

“Rachel, you let me worry about myself, I’m a teacher, I’m in a job which requires me to make sure that my pupils are alright. If I had any doubts as to my being able to do all that was required of me, stressed or not, then I would have to leave and choose another job. I’ll just have an early night tonight, and deal with what comes in the morning in the morning.”

“Hmmmmm – you are meaning that its not going to get better in the morning aren’t you?”

“I’m meaning let’s leave the future to worry about itself. It’s in God’s hands and he can look after it for us. We have to be bothered about the present, and you are either going to tell me what is wrong, or we are going to find out what class you are supposed to be in.”

“I…” Rachel stopped and Tamara waited for her to feel she could continue. “I don’t like that class. It’s too noisy. The lights hurt my eyes. I just find it difficult to deal with.”
“Which class is this then?”
“The art class. We just finished with art, and I hated it.”

Tamara stopped and thought about it for a minute. “Well, we may be able to do something about that. I can’t promise anything though, and you will have to talk to the heads about something like that. I’m not sure which direction they will choose to go in with it.

“Look, leave it with me, and I’ll try and sort something out, but I’ll have to look into the different options so it might take a bit of time.

“Now then. Can you remember what subject you were going for? No? Ok then I suggest that we head off to the office and I can find that out for you.” So saying she led the girl down a corridor to the place where Rosalie and her team kept all the official records.

“Rosalie, can you find out where Rachel is supposed to be at present?” Tamara asked her, hoping it would be someone sympathetic teaching, someone who would not go overboard at the girl calmly choosing to absent herself from the class.

Rosalie smiled at her quietly. “Yes of course Tamara. By the way, the heads were wondering if you would like to join them for coffee and cakes at afternoon break. I think Ruth said something to them.” Tamara went pale at this news.

Now what would they say to her. She had not realized how bad her behavior would seem to the other staff members, and it was bad enough with Audrey having to tell her that she had made a mistake, without another member of staff reporting her to the heads as well. “Who will all be there?”

“Well, I think they were considering inviting Len as well, since she is a bit worried about you as well.”
“Len’s worried about me? Have I upset her somehow?” Rosalie looked up from her computer in surprise. She was struck by how pale Tamara looked. “Have you upset her? No. Who said anything about you upsetting anyone Tamara?”

“But if the heads want to see me. Surely that means I must have done something wrong.”
“But you couldn’t have done something wrong!” The exclamation came from Rachel whom both of the others had forgotten about in their interest in the conversation.

“Oh, couldn’t I Rachel. I think you are going to learn that I am a very human kind of person and therefore find it very easy to do things that are wrong.” Tamara managed to put her worries behind her as she smiled at the girl.
“Having said that, the heads do not want to see you because you have done something wrong Miss Darleigh. I can only assure you that they just want to make sure that you are happy here.”

“Someone said something that upset her this morning. And I don’t like it when people do that. It’s not right.”
“Well said Rachel, but people do make mistakes, and the heads will make sure that the situation is sorted out. Now let’s see what class are you supposed to be in just now… Ah yes it would appear you have a literature lesson with Mrs Entwhistle now.”

Tamara and Rachel walked along to Rachel’s form room in silence. Eventually Tamara spoke. “We are nearly there Rachel, don’t worry about it, Mrs Entwhistle is great. She won’t mind I promise.” Rachel walked silently by her side for a little while longer. Then she spoke. “I shouldn’t have interrupted you like that earlier on. I’m sorry.” Tamara caught her breath for a moment, and prayed for wisdom in answering her.

“You are right if you mean that it wasn’t exactly conventional. It was a conversation between Miss Dene and myself. However I understand why you did it. Think about it, but don’t let it worry you too much.

“Learning how to keep quiet in a situation like that will come in time, though it might be rather difficult. You will develop coping strategies to help out with it. Some people may well object to this kind of thing. You just need to keep trying.

“Here we are. You ok?” Rachel nodded and took a deep breath. “You’ll be fine. I promise.” Tamara knocked at the door and opened it. “I’m sorry for keeping Rachel behind a bit Miss Entwhistle.” Len had looked up at her knock and smiled at the pair of them.

“That’s alright Miss Darleigh, the girls told me she was with you. Rachel, would you take your seat and Joanne will tell you what you are supposed to be doing. Class, I expect you to continue with your work, and I will be back in in a few minutes. If I hear any noise whatsoever when I come back in then I will put you in silence for the rest of class time. That means no play and I will have you writing out the rules of grammar instead!” With this threat she left the room and closed the door behind her.

As soon as the door was closed she turned back to Tamara. “Are you alright. The girls told me that Rachel only turned back because you appeared to be rather upset. There is something wrong isn’t there?”

Tamara copied Rachel when she was faced with her test by taking a deep breath. Then she took her courage and smiled at Len. “Oh nothing really.” She said. “Just one or two bits and pieces came up that’s all.”

Len looked at her in disbelief. “Tamara, it’s me you are talking to. Even when you do that and treat me like a stranger I can still tell that there is something wrong. Now please, tell me. It’s alright to find things difficult you know. You can’t be superwoman. I have bad days; I run home to my husband and cry some days. You don’t even have that escape. So you need to learn to learn to tell us when things are getting difficult for you.”

“But I’m supposed to be a professional; I’m supposed to be a member of a team. I’ve got to pull my weight or we are less effective. If I give in then I’m less likely to be able to work properly. I can’t be a burden to the rest of you either.

“No Len. I have to work this one out by myself. Well, there are one or two people I could go to for advice. I’ve been meaning to try and talk to them for a while, but I have never got around to it yet. We have been so busy.” Len laughed

“Arent we always at the start of term! Look, I had better get back to my class. I’ll talk to you later on. What are you going to do now?”
“Oh I’ll go up to my room I guess. I need a bit of a break before lunch, and then I have a class to teach so I will need to make sure I am prepared for that.

“Oh, I think it’s this class I’m going to be taking. That will be interesting. I’ve not had Rachel’s class yet. I had to be out of class the last time I would have been teaching them.” Len smiled at her gently.

“You will do great. I know that you are rather nervous as to how you will get on keeping that relationship in a classroom setting, but you will cope. Whatever difference this morning has made. Alright you go and do that, and I’ll see you later on.”

Tamara smiled back at her. “I believe that the heads have invited us for coffee and cakes for afternoon break, so if that is right I guess I’ll see you there.” Len agreed and went back to her class frowning as she considered this, while Tamara turned round and went back to her room.

Phew thats enough for the moment anyhow I thinK!

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:51 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#184:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 10:01 am

Thanks for the lovely long post Squirrel, this is great.

 

#185:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 11:58 am

Wow thats amazing Squirrel thank you.

Rachel coming to the school has changed Tamara and her relationships with her colleagues, and it must be rather bewildering for her too.

 

#186:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 12:17 pm

Squirrel, there is such a lot in this that you took my breath away. You really are teaching us so much about this condition.

Tamara is learning that some mistresses cling tightly to their seniority and the kudos they THINK this brings them, instead of listening to someone who could help them. She will have to learn how to help the staff understand the problems without treading on their toes, and that is a valuable learning process. That is something ALL of us could do with learning.

Rachel is so sensitive here and is very courageous in sticking up for Tamara - and well done, Rosalie, for being so understanding about being interrupted.

Both Rachel and Tamara are on a steep learning curve but they are helping each other so beautifully. Hopefully the meeting with the Heads and Len will sort out some of the problems and give both of them some breathing space.

Sorry to be so long-winded, but you took my breath away.

 

#187: Rachel tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 12:38 pm

Thank you for two great updates Squirrel. You really are teaching us so much.

I really can't do better than echo what Mary has said - and she has expressed it so much better than I could have done at this time in the morning (well it *is* only 8:30 am on Sunday here!!!)

Looking forward to more when you have time to spare from unpacking and settling in at home for the Summer - good luck with all of that, too.

 

#188:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:18 pm

Wow thank you Squirrel

I think Mary's said it all really -all I can do is echo her wholeheartedly

 

#189:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon May 30, 2005 10:59 am

Squirrel thank you. This is incredible.

Liz

 

#190:  Author: Sarah_G-G, Location: Sheffield (termtime), ? any other time! PostPosted: Mon May 30, 2005 12:31 pm

I have nothing original to add. Just 'Thank you' and it's really fascinating learning about the condition in this way.

 

#191:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:08 am

Hey all, probably the last from me until sunday at any rate. I'm going to York for a few days to meet up with a friend.

Chapter 12 a look at support systems

Once she was in her room Tamara decided that this just couldn’t wait any longer. She had to contact them. She set up her computer and thought about how she was going to sort this out.

An introductory e-mail she decided, that was the best way. She would check out they were happy with her calling in with them before she told them all about it. How would she start it, that was the next question. Ah, well, that was merely a question of starting to write, and see what she came up with.

“Hi there June. Sorry I haven’t been in contact for such a long time. I guess you know how busy it can be working in a school. By the time I get back to my room at the end of the day I find that I just have to withdraw and have a while to myself, and then I go to bed and usually sleep from the minute I lye down until the rising bell goes.

“I normally get by without needing to nap during the day unless some less than usual stressor comes into the day. Then of course I have to withdraw and do my best to relax again.

“Unfortunately things have changed here recently, and my role seems to be changing without my wanting it to. This has created many different areas of tension in the school, and I feel I am being pulled in several different directions at once.

“I’ll not go into it here, but if you wouldn’t mind giving me some advice on the matter please let me know and I’ll explain the situation I find myself in in further detail.

“Hope that the preparations for the start of term are going well. I must admit that I really miss being at the uni and seeing you guys so often. Perhaps if it is alright I’ll come over and see you the next time I am in the country.

“ Ok then, I did come up here to grab a break between now and lunch and I’ve then got a class to teach followed by a meeting with the heads.

“There was a rather stressful episode in the staff room this morning – the staff room of all places. I thought that I was getting on alright with the other members of staff, but I guess that there are some things I have missed.

“Blessings, and love to you and all the others I know in the department. Tamara”
Tamara sent the e-mail and sighed. She didn’t really like troubling them any more. After all, their job was to support people while they were in the University. Once you had left you were really expected to stand on your own feet again.

However there were times when she felt that there was no other option for her. Regardless of what folks might say, they were really the ones who knew best how her diagnosis affected her on a daily basis.

Yes her parents had brought her up, and knew what she was doing, but they still didn’t really know that part of her that well. Tamara hadn’t wanted them to. She still didn’t want them to if she was honest with herself. They were great, and she was sure that they would have lots of advice for her, but what was there to say for them.

She didn’t mind passing on info, but when it came to the emotional stuff they had never really had that much input for her. And they had a way of managing to make complicated situations even more complicated, as if life wasn’t stressful enough without that.

With her brother it was different. Alright, he was on the autistic spectrum himself, but he was a strong character, and brave with it. He didn’t always talk and was often wrapped up in his own world, but when she told him things he made it clear to her, in his own way that he understood what she was saying.

He didn’t always have advice for her, but then she didn’t want that from him. He was just her listening ear. He was in uni himself now, and he was one of the few people she made sure she sent an e-mail to every day. He had admitted to her that on those days he didn’t receive one from her he began to worry about what was happening to her.

With worry and stress being one of the biggest things that people with an ASD had to face she ensured that she sent him one each day at about teatime so that he got most of the events of the past day. The one she was going to send him tonight would have to be worded carefully so that she didn’t worry him even more than he would be if she did not send one.

As she thought about it the best way for her to word part of the mail came to her, and smiling in relief she jotted down the words “learning social lessons” as a reminder to herself. Yes, that would be the best way to describe the farce that had taken place in the morning.

Taking a deep breath Tamara then went to lie down for a while. Having done those two things she knew that she had done all she could at the moment to quiet her head down. She would just have to forget about the issues now and if her head was going to be a nuisance then her bible was lying beside her and she would just pick it up and start reading for a little while.

The last thing Tamara remembered doing was setting her alarm just in case she could sleep. Then she closed her eyes, and did indeed sleep until the alarm went off 40 minutes later. Then she just had time to get herself freshened up again before heading down to the dinner hall to have some lunch.


Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:58 pm; edited 2 times in total

 

#192:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:27 am

Squirrel, you are exposing so clearly to us how difficult it is to live day in, day out, with these conditions, and how much most of us take for granted about our own lives instead of counting our blessings.


What a fantastic relationship between Tamara and her brother and I do hope they manage to keep things on an even keel for each other.

Hoing also that her Uni advisers will come through for her.

Thank you so much.

 

#193:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 12:07 pm

Thank you Squirrel

It is so interesting to see this deal with thing from both the point of view of Rachel and Tamara - I can see they will both be of help to each other, not just Tamara to Rachel.

Hope you have a good time in York

Liz

 

#194: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 12:25 pm

Thank you so much for this, Squirrel - you have given us another wonderful picture of how people with this syndrome find the coping mechanisms which suit them best - and how well they can succeed in dealing with the unusual as well as the routine.

Tamara has taken all the steps she can for herself in this new situation, and she knows when to ask for advice and who to approach. I just hope the university advisors will help her.

The relationship between Tamara and her brother is clearly something special, too, especially in the way she responds to his needs with her daily e-mail, and can always depend on him to be her 'listening ear.'

Have a lovely time in York.

Will be looking forward to reading about Tamara's advisors' response to her questions, and also to her tea party with the Heads and Len Entwistle.

 

#195:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:59 pm

Thank you Squirrel - I hope you have a lovely time in York. I'm looking forward to your return and with it, hopefully, more drabble!!!

This is a really great drabble, I'm learning so much from it - thank you for writing it and sharing it with us

 

#196:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:34 am

Have a great time in York, Squirrel.

Every time I read your drabble I feel I am learning more about this condition. And it's such a fun way to learn!

Thank you very much.

 

#197:  Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:29 pm

Add me to the growing list of people who are learning so much as they enjoy this.

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

 

#198:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:52 am

Hi there, the holiday was good thanks. Ok here we go for the next instalment.

Chapter 13 -

Rachel was standing on the edge of the group listening to the conversation that they were having. The conversation had gone from the ‘ghastly’ piece of prep which Mrs Entwhistle had set them to do that evening, to the holiday weekend that they would surely be having at some point during term, and was now currently centering on some film that had come out recently and most of the girls had seen. They were now discussing the relative merits of the actor Liam Sorby, and actress Kit Wittlesby, whoever they might be.

The first topic had interested her slightly, the second was something she would want to think over at some point, but the third was of no interest to her at all. Add to that the fact that the class that was due to start around 30 minutes later would be the first time she had met Tamara in lessons. No, Miss Darleigh, she corrected herself quickly.

It would be the first lesson that Miss Darleigh would take her class for. Rachel knew she would get on alright there, but what if she made a mistake, what if she didn’t manage to get the right pupil/teacher relationship going. She shook her head firmly. That was not going to happen. Miss Darleigh would be the one who would set the relationship in class, and Rachel would simply follow her lead.

Without even realizing she was doing it, Rachel wandered off towards the window. Lyn, who had been talking looked after her, feeling rather disconcerted. Joanne touched her on the arm lightly. “Don’t worry about it Lyn, she’s probably got something on her mind. I’ll go after her, you three stay here and I’ll let you know if I need any help.”

Joanne capably walked over to where Rachel was standing and gently touched her on the shoulder. Rachel turned to face her, half automatically. “Hey, you ok?”
“um… I guess”

“I guess, now tell me Rachel what kind of response is that, it doesn’t tell me much you know!” Rachel shook her head and laughed. “Oh Joanne, I don’t know. I’m just feeling a little… Funny I guess” she continued after finding that she didn’t really know how to explain it any better.

“This is going to go alright isn’t it?” Joanne paused for a moment trying to think of what could be causing the problem now. Luckily for her, Rachel continued, more as if she was thinking out loud than anything else now.

“I mean, I know that she is good and kind. I know how to deal with her out of class. But as a teacher… What if I do something wrong, what if I say something wrong. There’s so much more to the way that I see her that I’m sure to slip at some point.” This was far more than enough to give Joanne the clue she needed.

“Hey, Rachel, Come on. You know Miss Darleigh well enough by now. She is one of the easiest teachers of all to get on with you know. And it’s not as if she doesn’t know you well. If you make any mistakes she will understand.

“Come on, when has she ever failed to understand you? I count it a miracle the way some of the staff seem to need to be told again and again. She didn’t need told once. You should trust her, even if you don’t trust yourself.”

Rachel smiled up at her “Thanks Joanne. I do trust her, and I’m sure that I’ll get on well with her in classes too. This is just pre happening nerves. I get them before every new thing, every challenge. I just wish that so many things didn’t seem to be so much of a challenge. Then, perhaps I wouldn’t be so stressed all the time”

Joanne stopped and thought for a moment to see if she could recall some of the things which had helped in the past day. “Tell you what, why don’t we go and sit in the classroom? Then we can be out of the way and ready by the time class starts.” Rachel smiled and agreed so that was what they did.

By the time the girls got there, there was already a light on in the room. Joanne had insisted on bringing the other girls with them, so that the room did not seem so empty. She also felt that the more of them there were the more chance there would be to distract Rachel from her nerves. Since they didn’t know who was in the room, Joanne knocked at the door before opening it.

Tamara had gone along early to grab a few minutes quiet before class began. Hearing the knock she breathed a quick prayer for help in this unexpected situation, before turning to the door.

“Hello Joanne” She said, smiling at her. “How are you doing?” She asked as the girl and her friends walked in. Joanne smiled back at her. “Hi Miss Darleigh. Rachel was feeling a little nervous so we thought we would come and sit in the classroom until the bell went, if that’s alright of course.”

Tamara’s smile relaxed a little as her gaze fell on Rachel. “Of course it is” She said gently. “I have got one or two things to do here, so I hope I don’t disturb you too much. Rachel, this room is your form room, and if things ever do get too much in the common room this is the place to come. Joanne, Lyn, Helen and Megan are the people to come with too.

“Now, I had better get on and get one or two things from the stock cupboard to make sure that we are ready for the start of class”.

Rachel had been astounded at the way Joanne had responded to Tamara’s question. It seemed that this mistress had a most unusual way of relating to her pupils anyway.

Rachel couldn’t think of any other mistress to whom a pupil would have said ‘hi’ to, but then, she was slowly discovering that this was a most unusual school, and that the staff and pupils had different relationships depending on whether or not they were ‘in school’ or not.

She wasn’t exactly happy that Tamara had left the room so quickly, but she realized that the teacher would of course have work to do before the class came in and was therefore not going to say anything. Tamara was after all the teacher, and therefore would be in the room again soon.

When she did arrive Tamara was carrying a lot of paper of different sizes. The girls immediately rushed to help her. “Why didn’t you take at least one of us with you Miss Dalreigh?” Lyn asked her. “You know that we love to help when we get the chance.”

Tamara smiled at her. “I really hadn’t realized that there would be so much of it. If you would like to give each girl one piece of the largest and two of every other size that would be very helpful, thanks.” Each girl took responsibility for a certain size.

That was other than Rachel who wandered over to the mistress instead. “Did you really not realize, or was there another reason?” She asked quietly. “Oh Rachel! Yes, I thought you could do with a chance to get used to being in the room again with your friends, but no, I did not leave you lot all in the room because of that. To be honest, I was glad of the break. Its been a most unusual day for both of us.”

“And this next class is going to be difficult.” Tamara looked at her quickly. Not knowing exactly how to tackle this one. “Are you worrying about it a lot then?” Rachel nodded quietly. “Hey, it will be alright. What’s worrying you about it? Do you think I’m really that bad a teacher?!” Tamara teased her gently, and was rewarded with a small smile.

“No, it’s not that.” Rachel protested before stopping for a moment. “It’s just… What if I make a mistake?” Tamara touched her gently on the arm. “Well, firstly, it’s no big problem. Everyone makes mistakes now and again, me included. Secondly if you do make a mistake I’ll wait until class has finished and we will then talk about what the mistake was, what the circumstances were surrounding it, and what a better way to go about achieving your aim might have been. And Thirdly, You are not going to make any mistakes that are that bad, so there is no point in worrying about it.

“In fact if you spend all of your energy in worrying about making mistakes then you are far more likely to make them than if you just relax and try to enjoy the class! Now I imagine that the bell is about to ring, so why don’t you go and sit in your seat so that you don’t get caught up in the rush as the others arrive!” With that, Tamara knowing full well the best chalet traditions left the room, and Rachel, comforted a bit by this encounter, went to sit next to her friends again.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#199:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:21 pm

Glad you had a good holiday Squirrel.

That was lovely - thank you. Very Happy

Liz

 

#200: Rachel Challenges the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:47 pm

Another great episode, Squirrel. Lovely to see first Joanna and the other 2 girls, and then Tamara, reassuring Rachel, and doing and saying the things which they think will best help her to cope.

It will be very interesting to see how the lesson goes.

 

#201:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:17 pm

Lovely, thank you Squirrel - I love the way the relationship between Miss Darleigh and Rachel has developed. I hope the lesson will go smoothly for them both, as it sounds like they each have enough to deal with.

 

#202:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 4:32 pm

Hi, Squirrel. I'm glad you had a nice break.

Glad to see tis back too. Razz It's fascinating that Joanne seems to understand and notices that some of the teachers don't.

I hope the lesson isn't too stressful for either of them.

 

#203:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:56 am

Ok, classroom scene has eventually managed to get here! PB kept on wanting to be distracted by other ideas! Ah well, that will come in useful for later on I guess!

The next few moments were busy enough, with the now slightly familiar sight of the milling girls getting their books and finding their seats. Rachel was glad for the foresight of her friends which had saved her from being part of that crowd of girls, and she made a mental note that she should try to be in the class room early on every possible occasion.

Soon everyone was seated and the bell rang. A few minutes later they heard the tap of feet as the different mistresses went to the various rooms. Silently, without any warning their door opened and the girls all stood up. Tamara disliked shoes that made that kind of noise as she found it hard enough to walk quietly without shoes which tapped as she walked.

This did however had the disadvantage that the girls often did not know she was coming right up until the moment the door opened. Tamara walked in quietly and smiled at them all. The girls then sat as she walked over to the Mistresses table.

It being the first class after lunch she quickly took the register and made sure that all the girls who were expected were in before she went on to the days work.

“You will all see that you have paper of different sizes on your table, and before anyone asks, no, this has not suddenly metamorphosed into an art class. I know my strengths well, but I do not number art amongst them!”

The girls giggled appreciatively at this, and Rachel joined in, wondering at this kind of teaching slightly. "We will however be needing them later on in the lesson, so I expect you to be listening carefully to what I have to say before then.”

Tamara had then launched into a history lesson on the life of people during the time of Henry the 8th. She then had them go over to the book case and choose a book which focused on a specific town of about that time.

The school had ordered in a series of books from an educational center for this purpose. The girls were free to choose an agricultural area or a place which was more town centred.

Rachel ended up with a book which was based on York in Tudor times. She flicked through the pages quickly, looking for something about the city that might interest her. She found that she was lucky with the book she had picked up. She hadn’t really thought about it, but had just wanted to get a book and get back to her seat.

There were lots of different buildings which interested her, from the shambles which looked like they were going to fall in on themselves to the imposing stone version of Cliffords tower in which Jews had hid in the 1100’s when there was a great deal of religious disagreement taking place.

There had been a second wood structure, but this had ended up being blown over. Then another, stone version had been built. This version had survived. With such a gruesome history as that Rachel was glad to turn the page to look at the next illustration.

Before she had time to look at the next page properly Miss Darleigh’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Now, to explain what we are going to be doing with the pieces of paper.

“You will not need all of them at once. However part of this years course is going to be creating a folio about the history of a particular city. The city you will focus on will of course be the same one.

“You can choose to focus on one particular aspect of that cities history through the ages so that you can see how things have changed as the years move on. The biggest piece of paper is going to act as a covering for the rest of the project. Great artwork is not necessary; however some kind of originality would be good.

“The long strips are for a timeline. I expect you to have chapters in this folio and it would be a good idea if each chapter had a sheet of say A4 with 3 or 4 strips going along the short side of it so that a small segment of the timeline can be seen at any one time. If you choose not to do it this way, then use your initiative and try to make it simple and easy to use.

“I will now distribute some polythene wallets for you to keep the paper in until you are ready to use it. Then I would like you to give me an idea of what you are thinking about covering city and subject.” The list was quickly gathered and Miss Darleigh had sent them back to looking at their books with the comment that of course if they wanted to change in the next few weeks that was perfectly alright, “but much longer than that and you will find it hard to catch up”.

They didn’t have much more time before the bell rang and Tamara, with a quick smile and nod at Rachel gathered her things together and dismissed them for a quick leg stretch.

Eta: Paragraphing

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:23 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#204:  Author: JenniferG, Location: Durham PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:35 am

I do enjoy your writing, Squirrel - I'm finding this story really interesting. However, (hope you don't think this is a criticism of your work) I find it quite difficult to concentrate on big blocks of text like this - would it be possible to break it up with a few paragraphs? Thanks.. Very Happy

 

#205:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:50 am

Thanks Squirrel

Wish I'd had history projects like that!

Liz

 

#206:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 12:09 pm

wow that sounds interesting - i hope Rachel will be able to get her teeth into it and produce a good project.

Thanks for the update Squirrel

 

#207:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 1:40 pm

Thank you very much for the update Squirrel! (but paragraphs would be wonderous Embarassed )

 

#208:  Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:37 pm

Good to see this is back Squirrel!

Nice to see Rachel in a lesson which she is enjoying, and that she and Tamara both coped with the challenge.

 

#209:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:03 pm

Alright, this next part has taken a while to do, and no wonder since there are 7 full pages of typing in it - just to warn you. I have however tried to listen to the requests and paragraphed it, so hopefully it should be a little easier to read.

Rachel looked longingly at her as she walked out of the room with the other girls. She would have loved to spend a few minutes with her, but she knew that now was not the time for it. She also remembered that Tamara had that meeting happening very soon.

As she caught the mistress’s eye, just before she walked out the door she gave her a quick thumbs up sign. Tamara smiled at her, have her difficulties she might, but Rachel was one understanding young person for all that.

When the classroom was completely empty Tamara went to the door switching off the lights as she went. After stopping in the staffroom to drop her books off she wandered over to the door. There she met Len. “Ah Tamara, wait for me a moment and we’ll walk down together shall we?” Len had been quick to note the look of strain which was hovering just below the surface on the face of the younger mistress.

Tamara smiled and accepted, relief at the perceptiveness of Len flooding her. “That would be good thanks” She responded. A few minutes saw them walking along to the heads study in companionable silence. Talking at this juncture was beyond Tamara, and Len understood that if she were to talk the younger mistress would have to make an effort to take in fully what she was saying. However her presence was enough to steady Tamara and help her past the nerves which threatened her peace.

When they reached the office Len smiled at her and knocked at the door. The quiet “Come in” reached them and Len opened the door. “Hi Hilda, I believe that you wanted to see us just now.” Len had of course dropped the title of aunt where staff members were concerned when she joined the staff herself many years before.

Hilda looked up at her, glad to see that she seemed to have taken Tamara under her wing for the present. “I was wondering if you would come through to my sitting room, that will give this less of an official air. Ah, Nell, that’s good. I seem to think that you need to be in on this as well.” She said looking up as someone entered the office without knocking.

The four moved through to the sitting room where there were coffee and cakes waiting on them. They sat down and Hilda began to pour out the cups. Tamara settled her gaze on the fire where flames were crackling merrily to themselves. “Yes, it’s one of these modern ones of course, but even if it is only a poor imitation its preferable to none!” Hilda commented when she saw what she was looking at.

The voice pulled Tamara back from her ‘land of quiet’ and she jumped slightly, startled. Hilda laughed gently. “I’m sorry my dear, I didn’t mean to give you a fright. Now, before we get started on this fully, does anyone have a class immediately after break? No? that’s good. Hopefully we will be able to get this all wrapped up before anyone has to leave us then”
Tamara nodded in resignation. She could see her time for quiet disappearing altogether that day. She really would need a good nights sleep that evening. Ah well, it was the weekend after that, and she could withdraw as much as she needed to then.

“Tamara, before we start, Joey asked me to let you know that she had managed to make all the arrangements we discussed with Rachel. Both You and Joanne will go across with her, and she will meet up with the small fry for a while. She also said that if you had any other suggestions could you please let her know. She wants to try and give her an especially good time, to make up for all the difficult things that she has had to cope with recently.”

Tamara looked at her quietly. Could she really mean what she had just said? Did they none of them understand that ‘an especially good time’ might end up being another thing Rachel had to cope with? Could she say anything to them, or would it be a better idea to wait? She was still thinking through what she could say, and finding out what her thoughts were leading to when the moment passed and she was left trying to work out the best way to deal with the situation would be. Ah well, she would have to forget about it for the moment, but if the worst came to the worst she could always insist that Rachel had had enough and bring her back to the school.

Then Tamara had to turn her attention to what was passing in the room again. Miss Annersley was speaking again.

“Tamara, I’m sure that what I am about to say will come as no surprise to you. The events of the past few days have been enough to give Nell and I a few thoughts. Can you tell us a bit more about it or will I have to fill you in on our thoughts first of all?”

After thinking about it for a little Tamara looked up. “Alright, this is going to be rather difficult for me. Its not something I talk about much.” She stopped, wondering how on earth she was going to start on her story. Then she remembered that she had told Miss Annersley about her brother at any rate, which might be one way into it.

“I believe on the first day of term I mentioned my brother. He is just now about 23 years old and in university. He started studying there this time last year, and to us his managing to get there has appeared to be a bit of a miracle. We knew about his difficulties from an early age. I guess that I seemed alright by comparison to him, and certainly, while the schools knew I had certain difficulties and needed support no-one suggested that there were any social difficulties involved for me.

“By the time we were both in primary school I had known about my Brothers diagnosis, and I had felt that it was up to me to protect him. It hadn’t seemed strange at the time that I began to look after him when he arrived at the school. After all I had been at the school a good while then and knew it well, and he hated new things. So I used to do my best to make things easier for him.

“I sometimes wonder now if the school had realized that I had something of the sort as they didn’t make a fuss when I joined him for his breaks. Perhaps they just thought I was being a loving sister, giving up my break times to be with him. I’m certain that they didn’t know that the quiet of the room they set aside for him to be in was a sanctuary for me as well.

“he of course settled down happily as long as I was with him, but got very upset if I was not with him. After the first week or so we also had other people from his class in with him so that he had the opportunity to make friends, and soon he became quite popular with his classmates – especially in the winter time!

“As they believed that the chance to run around was important, or fresh air was if nothing else, or being outside then if the air couldn’t accurately be called fresh, the school arranged for my brother to go outside for a little time each day. Since he found the main playground especially difficult he would be let into a smaller one, which rarely had pupils in it. The staff sometimes used it if it was an especially nice day, but they knew the times that Donal used the place and stayed in at those times.

“I had to stay with him there as well, for as soon as he was out, whatever the weather was like Donal would just sit down in one of the corners and stay there until we were called in again. I was needed to try and make sure that he didn’t sit straight in a puddle or something like that. The kids used to tease him horribly if he went in having sat in a wet patch.

“As I left primary we managed to get someone in his own class who seemed to be able to understand him better than most to sit with him. Rob was really good with him, and Donal seemed to respond to him in ways that he didn’t with the other people in his class. He had of course joined us towards the end of the last term and I had phased out my time with them.

“Leaving primary was a huge shock to my system, and although I was supported due to my other needs I missed my brother terribly. At break times I was often on my own as there were few people who seemed to want to spend any time with me. By the time my Brother came up I was so used to this that the time I spent on my own seemed like a refuge in itself.

“He of course didn’t need me with him any more. Rob had cheerfully befriended him through the last several years of primary and both were happy in that friendship. It seems to me now that Rob needed many of the things that Donal needed, but for different reasons.

“By that stage I was beginning exams as well. This drove me into myself and while I was working so much that I had little time for anything else the school authorities had eventually picked up on my social skills. They didn’t do all that much about it having said that. Well not at that stage anyhow.

“Having got through my first set of exams well I took on another set happily. I was one of the youngest for my class, and I was determined that I was going to do well in what I was doing.

“The next year was difficult on many different levels. I was trying to do my first year of ‘Highers’ cause of course I was educated on the Scottish system. My Brother who had been coping alright suddenly found that life was too much at that moment, and unfortunately Rob wasn’t able to provide the support that he needed. I found myself having to spend my free time with Donal to allow Rob the chance to have a break. Rob was at that time in every single class with Donal so there was no chance for him to have much of a break during lessons. The staff were also beginning to become rather concerned that I didn’t seem to be maturing in the way they had hoped.

“My work was great, in fact I was doing so well with work that they were keen for me to take a break and spend my time doing something else. I wasn’t interested. I had developed one of my first non family orientated ‘obsessions’ though I didn’t recognize it as such.

“While most girls of my age were going out socializing I didn’t. It just didn’t occur to me to want to do so and anyhow most of the time the kind of things that girls my age tended to do were things that I just did not like. The staff did come up with some ideas for me, but I wasn’t at a place to follow them up. I just wasn’t ready for it, and coping academically meant that I didn’t have any extra energy to deal with growing up either.

“I somehow managed to get through the next two years, and got a mixed bag of good highers, and c.s.y.s or certificate sixth year studies. And I had got my place at university ready to start the following year. I had agreed with the support people at my school that it might be a good idea for me to take a ‘year out’ while I went to get tests and the rest of it to find out what was the cause of my being so withdrawn.

“My brother during this time was my refuge. We would just sit together, saying nothing, just being together. We were often in the dark as the light was a trying thing for Donal. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I was trying to make sense of the things that were happening to me. I couldn’t understand why they were so concerned about the amount of socializing I was doing when I was getting on so well with passing all of my exams.

“What I didn’t realize was that it wasn’t really the amount of socializing I was doing that was concerning them. They were by far more worried about the changes that they could see in a classroom situation. Right up until that time I had got on well in class. In fact in class time you could not have told that I had any extra needs. They were not worried at that stage what I did with my break times if I seemed to get on alright with everyone while I was in class.

“They were well aware about my brothers needs of course, and knew that I had been used to spending my break times more or less on my own, so when I didn’t make close friends in the playground they were not that bothered. They just thought that I had developed a need to be on my own as a kind of learned behavior from him. Little did they realize that those first few years I was desperate for a friend or two, and yet had no idea about how to go about making one. By the time I was in my third year I had more or less given up on this, well, I’d got used to the way things were and had given up trying.

“I guess that with such an unusual background it would seem strange that I wasn’t diagnosed by far earlier, and you would be wondering how I had managed to cope so well in the school as to not be suspected up until now. That’s partly due to the fact that I have concentrated only on school life and evenings. Weekends were by far different. At the weekend I was taken off by an aunt and uncle away from my normal life. Once a week I was transported from my “strange family life” as they insisted on calling it, to a different kind of life. I still didn’t have friends my own age, but I was socializing with people a little more.

“In some ways my weekends were just as strange as the week days. Auntie and Uncle were the wardens in a retirement home. I socialized alright, but some of the people who I saw on a regular basis needed more care than my brother. There was this one person who I used to sit with, and as I sat with her I would be thinking “And people say my Brother is repetitive”. I know now that she suffered from Alzheimer’s and the reason she would say the same thing over 50 times was that she had almost no short term memory and had forgotten she had said it before.

“I think that the times I spent with the other people however were a blessing for me. They might have been old, but I was able to socialize with them without fear. I understood how to talk to them, and they were not incomprehensible as people my own age were. I soon learned the people to avoid as they were just too confusing, those who merely wanted a bit of company, and who you had to be kind to on that count. I learned which people thought giving sweets to you was the best way to keep you happy and visiting them, and the ones with whom I could actually get on with well.

“There were also the times when auntie and uncles grown up children came to visit. Then I would have the chance to play with their young children and watch them growing up. Sometimes if I was very lucky they would take me home with them and I would have a time of helping to get the children to bed, and then talking with the adults. Though my emotional self did not grow that well, I was still, somehow, able to communicate with these adults. It might just have been their ability to reach down and make allowances for my youth. However old I was they knew all that was holding me back.

“The biggest help however was in my trips to church. This gave me a chance to be with and observe other children of my own age. I also would have the chance to spend time with the young ones. This was a real treat to me. Then again I got the chance to talk with other adults as well. Again they were great with me and let me into their conversations with each other. Others of my age might not want to join in with them, but if I wanted to then they were not going to object.

“So, over that summer I went to see a clinical psychologist. I could have seen an educational one, but for some reason it was decided that a clinical one would be better. My Aunt went with me as it was felt that she would be better accompanying me than either of my own parents.

“The time at the psychologists… There’ no real way to describe it. You have got to live through it to understand it. He talked for a while, did a few tests on me, and told me at the end that I had Aspergers. The same thing that Rachel has. I felt as if my world was ending. He tried to help me, and he gave me lots of contacts for getting help. We already had a fair number of them though, for my brother. There was no way I was accessing help from the people who came to help him.

“Um, that year is just a horrible memory now. I prefer not to call it to light of day. There were many trips to the psych as he had more tests and wanted to talk to me at the end of each session. He wanted to help. He tried to. But nothing he could say got through to me. He ended up signing me off without even beginning to touch the surface of what I was going through. It wasn’t his fault; I just couldn’t open up to him.

“the other things I did during that year were also people orientated. I went back to my old primary school where I was trained from scratch as a classroom assistant. I was fine doing that as they always told me exactly what they wanted done and they knew that I seemed to be able to get on well with the children who needed the extra support.

“No-one appeared to notice that I was terribly depressed by it all. I don’t know if I just didn’t tell anyone, or if people noticed but didn’t want to say anything. I kept up all of my usual activities as usual so perhaps they just didn’t realize what they were seeing. I didn’t know myself as I find it hard to recognize my emotions and on top of that and even if I had recognized it I wouldn’t have thought to do anything about it.

“It wasn’t until I was at Uni that I came anywhere near to accepting what I had been going through. I had of course by this stage a psychologists report and this had opened all sorts of doors for me.

“I was in the unusual position of already having a place at the Uni, so that I could visit and know that I was going to be going there. For me it was a secure place to be in. Despite the depression I had managed to grow up properly over the course of the year out that I had taken. Just not having the struggles of the academic work had given me the chance to do that.

“I met up with the support people on several occasions and I was lucky in that I knew that all of my needs were going to be met from the start. I even made an application for disabled students allowance early so that I could be seen as close to the start of the year as possible.

“I knew that I was going to meet up with one of the team – June – who was the disabilities advisor, on a weekly basis. She was great and when she saw me looking low so often she eventually asked me if I could be suffering from depression.

“When she heard that I had been low ever since I received my diagnosis, she prompted me to think about going to the Dr about it. Oh she did so many things, I cant explain it properly at all.

“its impossible for me to explain all the ways in which I received support while I was at uni. I had this team of friends in the background, the ones you can go to about anything. If ever something seemed difficult I would go to them and they would try to help. They didn’t always find me a way out, but they did do their best. Even if it was only by listening as I talked out a situation.

“It was at that time I learned better how to get on in the world. I had many acquaintances and a few people who knew more about me. Friends… Other than the people at support, no. That wasn’t a bad thing though. It was just the way things were. Besides, who needed friends when you have that kind of backup during the working week?

“Yes there was still evenings and weekends, and a lot of energy was spent trying to work out how to make sure I had the support I needed at those times. I was determined to be independent, well as independent as possible. I didn’t want to give up on going to see them. That was never part of my strategy, even though it would make leaving uni difficult.

“I never let my diagnosis stop me, and it was with a slight backing of anxiety that I went on to do a teaching conversion course. It was at the same uni so I continued to get the backing of the people in support for which I was deeply grateful. I graduated well, and was then on a teaching post on supply for a while.

“It didn’t take long for me to realize that a boarding school was really going to be the best environment for me, so I began to apply for different places. Don’t ask me why I didn’t disclose my diagnosis when I first applied, I was just being pigheaded! Once I got past that place I didn’t know when the best time would be to say, and after the first term or so I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t really anything to do with you. I seemed to be able to do my job well enough. I was getting through the days, and coping rather well.

“I still kept in touch with the people at uni. Still do in fact. They don’t mind, but I still feel that as I am no longer a student I have to ask their permission before I burden them with anything.

“Anyhow, that is where I am now. Um, this feels a bit silly, but any questions?”

There was a silence in the room. Tamara’s explanation had taken the breath away from her listeners. What a life to lead as a young girl. What courage to know that social situations were your worst nightmare and yet still decide to become a teacher. And what coping skills she must have to have been able to pull it off to the extent that she had. Without support too, for none of the rest of the staff had been aware of anything but the fact that the newest addition was a little strange sometimes.

 

#210:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:26 pm

I'd like to hug Tamara but I'm afraid it wouldn't help Crying or Very sad

Thank you Squirrel. That was superb wriiting and a very good insight into the problems she has faced.

 

#211:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:35 pm

yw - Um, just to say that I now have no idea when I'll be able to get on with this again. My laptop has just given up on me for the second time since November and the last time it was away until February. Um, not a very good track record for the people who supposedly fixed it for me. Hoepfully I should be able to get on again long before its due back (if indeed it does actually go to get fixed as I'm hoping that my Brother will be able to pull the necessary documents from it before long, though of course I have no idea when he will be able to do that. Anyhow once I actually have the document I'll be able to get on with is, cause we do have other computers in the house, its just none of them have "rachel" stored on them. Grrrrrrrrrrr. Anyhow, if anyone wonders whats happened to it, well thats the reason I cant get anything done til after I have the document back. Oh and Patmac - some people with AS cope fine with hugs, Rachel hugs Tamara often enough!

 

#212:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:16 pm

Hey Squirrel, I'm really enjoying this - hope your laptop comes back to life soon!

 

#213: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:26 pm

Squirrel - I just read both these last two episodes together - phew!!

How lucky Rachel and the rest are to have such an imaginative way to learn history - I'm sure they are going to have a wonderful time with those lessons.

And how courageous of Tamara to tell Len, Hilda and Nell so much about her own situation from her being a small child and how she has subsequently learned, with all the wonderful supports she has had in uni, to cope today. The way she cared for her brother when they were both in Primary school was rather wonderful, too.

Two beautiful episodes, thank you - and, in particular, for the insights into Tamara's situation. As I've said before, you are teaching us so much in this story.

I'm looking forward to reading about the reaction of the other three.

 

#214:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 11:47 pm

This is so well written and like most other people I am being challenged and learning so much

and it's a fab read as well

thankyou


Sending get well vibes to the laptop

 

#215:  Author: Cath, Location: Coventry PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:15 pm

Oh, lots of lovely updates! (am quite a bit behind with the drabble reading Embarassed ) This is absolutely fantastic Squirrel, thank you.

 

#216:  Author: Jodi, Location: Glasgow most of the time PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:14 pm

This is fantastic, teaching so much to me and is just so weel written. Thank you Smile

 

#217:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:43 pm

Squirrel wrote:
Oh and Patmac - some people with AS cope fine with hugs, Rachel hugs Tamara often enough!


In that case (((Tamara))). So sorry to hear about the evil lap top. I do hope it will recover quickly Crying or Very sad

 

#218:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:16 pm

Squirrel thank you so much for the lovely long update. It explains so much about Tamara and AS in general.

I do hope your laptop gets fixed soon as this is a wonderful piece of writing.

 

#219:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:54 am

Hi all, well my laptop is not fixed yet, nor have I managed to recover said document, but I have managed to resurect what I had not posted. I've still got a bit more to write before I'm ready to post that. however in the meantime here is the next little part of the study scene

Hilda was the first to recover herself. “No, no questions Tamara. Thank you for explaining yourself so completely. Now that we have dealt with that issue there are 2 other things we need to discuss. One is how best we can help Rachel, and the other is what we can say to the other staff”.

She held up a hand as Tamara seemed poised to speak. “Oh don’t be silly please. Surely you can see that we have to tell them something. The way that Audrey reacted this morning must show you that they have to be given an explanation. I wouldn’t be a very good head if I was to see the situation that is developing in my staff room and not do my utmost to change things.

“I’m afraid that in this instance the general feeling that you are a little unusual is now changing into something more. I don’t like the way the attitude is changing. I don’t like hearing that one of my mistresses is talking to another in the way that Audrey spoke to you. But I can’t ask her to be patient with you when she feels that the rules of social etiquette have been broken if I can’t explain that you don’t always know you have broken them.

“I know that now, but I didn’t before and some of the ways you have been acting recently appear to be plain rude. If I as an understanding head can make such a bad mistake with both you and Rachel, how much more must a person like Audrey who isn’t the most personable find it hard to excuse the things that seem wrong to her?

“Especially when she has no reason other than the belief that you meant her to take it the way that she did take it. Unless you did mean to make her feel that she was an idiot?” She ended on a note of polite enquiry.

If Hilda had expected to get grateful agreement on this score she was about to get another shock for Tamara suddenly looked up at her, her eyes glistening. “You are right, I am sorry for thinking that I could become a teacher.

“Its obvious now that I am too socially inept to manage work of this kind. I may as well go and pack now for I’m never going to achieve the kind of social skills I need for this job. Thank you for your patience with me.” She then tried to stand up, but found that she could not as Len was holding her down.

“Tamara Darleigh. That’s just enough of that silly kind of thinking. You are a great teacher. Do you know how many times I have heard the girls saying how much they enjoy your classes? I hear how good you are every day. And the girls do well with you as well.

“You would have heard about it before now if they were not up to scratch in your subject area when they got put up to Stephanie’s class I can tell you. She is a lovely person, but if she feels you haven’t been teaching them properly she won’t save her breath. She will make sure she lets you know.”

Hilda had just sat there listening. Now she decided it was time for her to take a fuller part in the conversation. “Tamara there was never any thought of you’re resigning. In fact I refuse to accept your resignation. It would be bad for the school and not only that but extremely bad for Rachel.

“I don’t want to have to make you feel I’m being unfair to you, but have you considered how your leaving would make her feel. You are quite possibly the only person who half way understands her, the one to whom she has built up the strongest link, and you are proposing walking out of this job before she has been here a full week.

“Tamara, all we are trying to do is make things a little easier for you. Now if you would like me to explain it to the rest of the staff for you I can do that. And I know that Len will be more than willing to support you in the staff room – in whatever way that might be necessary.

“She has already told you that you are a born teacher and the girls love you. That is more than can be said for many a teacher so please stop thinking that you cant do the job – you can do it perfectly well.
“now, enough of this, I need your help to work out how best we can help Rachel.

 

#220:  Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:05 am

Hope you manage to get your laptop fixed, Squirrel - and in the meantime, thanks for showing us more of this.

Tamara is so brave. I hope she is able to believe Hilda and Len, and that Hilda will be able to explain to the staff such that they can understand.

I'm still learning so much from this, Squirrel. It's one of the drabbles I check most frequently to see if I've missed an update!

 

#221:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:59 pm

Thank you Squirrel. I hope telling the staff is helpful and will mean Tamara is no longer subject to comments and misunderstandings like Audrey's.

 

#222:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:05 pm

Tamara and Len left the office chatting together. It had been a trying ordeal for Tamara and she was glad that Len had been there with her. “Actually Len, there is one thing more about Rachel that you might be able to build upon. She seems to have a real love of old buildings and the lives of people who used them. There must be some way you could build upon that interest. That would probably make her more attentive in your class anyhow.”
“How do you mean?” Len asked her quickly. Tamara described the way her session with Rachel’s class had progressed. “Since you had all warned me about how inattentive she could be I kept an eye on her as often as I could. There were times when I was talking that I noticed her going that way, but she has two kinds of inattentiveness. I would warn you to look out for the second one.

“The first that you have noticed is just her way of dealing with a situation which has put her on overload. The second is her getting caught up by something in the surrounding environment and being in a world where it is of high importance. This second one happened not while I was talking to the class, but when they had taken their books to their seats. I don’t know how I was able to tell the difference, but I knew there was something different about this kind of ‘spacing out’. Frankly I was curious, so I went for a wander round the room.

“When I got to her table the book was open at the page showing the York Minster. She had this covered however, and in such a way as to give a good view of the artists impression of that other small church there – St Michael le Belfry.

“I don’t know what she was thinking, well, obviously I don’t know that. What I can guess at however is that she was touched by that church in such a way that it caught at her… Oh I don’t know what I would call it! Imagination I guess, but they do say that people with AS are not that imaginative, well, perhaps some are not, I know others who are! And many do have their own inner worlds even if they are not ‘imaginative’ by every day standards.

“I hate this rigid classification thing. I guess it’s partly the way I am affected by it. I feel that the ‘rules’ ought to be strict, but then I find someone who doesn’t meet the rules completely and I get confused again. That’s one of the reasons I gave up the idea of being a special ed. Teacher, because that sort of stuff can throw me so much.”

Len smiled at her, trying to take in all of the information she had just been given. It amused her sometimes how unnecessary she was to Tamara’s conversation. All she had done since they had left the office was listen to what Tamara was saying, and now they were back at the staff room.

Tamara drew back, obviously feeling rather disconcerted. “If you don’t mind Len, I think I’ll leave the staff room alone for now. I know I’m going to have to deal with the situation I left behind this morning at some point, but not after an afternoon like that one has been.”

“Of course, you must be very tired by now. What are you going to do instead then?” Lens kind words were as refreshing to Tamara as anything else. She didn’t have to face this great ordeal yet, she could leave it until she was feeling a bit less tired out.

“I’m not sure. I think however that I’ll go up to my room for a bit.” She laughed a little “It seems like I spend most of my time up there right now, but I couldn’t deal with that crew quite yet. I might go and think about what I am going to say to my brother in tonight’s e-mail. I don’t want to unsettle him, but that’s a thin line after a day like today has been.

Len smiled at her again. “I’m sure you will do fine with it. You look worn out, come on, go and get some rest. If you are going to have to face my Mother tomorrow you are going to have to be on your toes!”

Tamara laughed at her, and wondered if she would tell Len what that phrase had made her think of. No, she decided. Not yet, it was too early to tell her things like that, and Len was looking impatiently at her, waiting on her deciding to move. Still, that mental image of the girls all walking “En Pointe” whenever they went to see Joey was decidedly amusing

 

#223:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 3:13 pm

Thank you Squirrel. Love that image of the girls en pointe!

 

#224:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:13 pm

sorry for so much in such rapid succession- I guess being without said laptop has made me a little impatient! Anyhow this should be the last for tonight!

Once she was safely back in her room Tamara thought about what she could say to her brother. She could try and pretend that there was nothing wrong, but she knew that this would not work. No matter how hard she tried to hide it her brother always seemed to be able to sense that something was wrong. Well, they had grown up together, and they had had a special kind of relationship for a long time. Tamara guessed that they always would be able to get a sense of what the other was trying to hide.

Past experience had shown another way was possible, but as it made more work for others she was always reluctant to use it. However she had learned a rule before this point which said if she was thinking about doing something she didn’t really want to do then she probably should do it. Sighing she resigned herself to the inevitable and thought about how she would work it.

She should probably write 3 emails and the sooner one of them was sent off the better. The other two could wait a little longer.

Tamara was tossing and turning as her mind went round in circles. The first topic that came to her mind was the afternoons talk in the study, would it have been better if she had explained it this way or said that thing. Would they have understood her meaning better? Would she have enabled them to understand Rachel better if she had picked up on this little bit of the diagnosis rather than focusing on the topic in general after she had finished her explanation about her own experiences? Thinking about Rachel brought another topic to mind. How on earth was she going to stop Joey overwhelming the poor girl? Tamara had attended one of those parties in the past, and had had the experience of English tea while in her first term at the school and she knew how easily overwhelmed Rachel was at the moment. She must ask Len for advice as to how she could best deal with it. Len, now that was a thought, who better to deal with her mother than Len? Tamara decided quickly that she would catch Len in the morning and ask her if she would mind accompanying them over. Now what could she say to Len…

It was at this point that Tamara caught herself. She had gone to bed at 9.30 because she was tired. It was now after 12 and she was still going over these topics. She had told Rachel to read the psalms; it was about time she took her own advice. She reached over to her desk and turned on the lamp. Picking up her bible she opened it at roughly the middle and found herself looking at a page which had psalms 19-22 on it. For an instant her gaze alighted on psalm 22, before she saw psalm 20. A moment longer passed while she debated which of the two she would read. The final decision she reached was that she would read psalm 20 and if it didn’t look like it was going to help her she would then read psalm 22. She read the first line “In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to your cry.” That settled her for reading this particular psalm rather than psalm 22. This is what she read.


Psalm 20
1 In times of trouble, may the LORD respond to your cry.
May the God of Israel[a] keep you safe from all harm.
2 May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.[b]
3 May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Interlude
4 May he grant your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7 Some nations boast of their armies and weapons,[c]
but we boast in the LORD our God.
8 Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
9 Give victory to our king, O LORD!
Respond to our cry for help.
New living translation
Tamara put it aside smiling to herself. “Yes” she thought, “that piece definitely fitted her just now. She was upset and confused and she got a psalm which spoke of comfort.” She made sure that her bible was open at the place before turning off the light. If she should have the same problem later on she knew what she was going to do. She was going to turn to psalm 20 and read it through again. It had all the answers she needed for just now.

 

#225:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:49 pm

Thank you Squirrel.

It can't be any easy situation of anyone.

There's an article in New Scientist this week titled 'Autistic and Proud'. The gist of it is that the right support is not being given right across the spectrum and that at the Aspergers or PDD-NOS end of the spectrum should be accepted like any other 'difference' and not defined as a 'disease'.

I don't know enough to comment properly but I can, by thinking about the people I know, myself included, that some of the behavioural signs of the mild end of the spectrum are there in all of us.

I'm glad Tamara is not giving up but I forsee some painful times ahead for her.

 

#226:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:35 pm

Patmac - thats a comment I have heard several times so I guess that its correct that to a certain extent most people experiance some of what it is like to have AS on some levels at some points. I have also heard it put that many of the things that I find difficult are the same things that people without AS find difficult, its "just" that I find them that little bit extra so. On the other hand ther are other things which are totaly bound up in AS and these things are more to do with thought processes and the way that I act and react in certain situations. Also the way that I cope with things especially stress. Ah well, I can learn and no doubt in time I will.

Anyhow to get on with the story, just to warn you - this is a most un-chalet orientated part

Meanwhile in a town far away Donal was looking at his e-mails. He had known that this e-mail would be coming at some point or another. Tamara’s mails recently had just been too guarded for there not to be something wrong. Why did it have to be on a Friday when he couldn’t access the different supports that were in place though? Could she not break on a Thursday when at least he would have one more day to go and talk to someone?

Mentally he scolded himself for thinking that way. Something must have happened through the course of the day for her to send that kind of Email. He read it through again muttering to himself

“Donal, this is just to warn you that I’ve been having a bit of a difficult time recently. I’ve told you all about it in the next e-mail I will send you, but you are not to look at that until you are completely relaxed again. I promise you its nothing terrible, just a few difficult situations which I am getting slowly used to.

“ If you do not manage to relax enough to read it before you next see June, take it with you and read it while you are with her. I have e-mailed her to warn her as well. Please be reassured – I’m alright. There is nothing happening here that I can’t handle with a bit of effort.

“Now you can send me a big mail full of all your news, tell me how you are doing and I’ll try and get a weekend off to come and say hello in a few weeks time. Love, Tamara”

He then looked at his next e-mail and wondered. Then he opened it curiously, wondering what the sender could have to say to him just now.

“Hi Donal, I was hearing from Tamara that things were a little difficult for her just now and that she had reached the stage where she had had to tell you about it. I’m sorry its been on a Friday, however if you want you can come in to talk about it on Monday.

“You will know that we are rather busy getting ready for you all coming back again in a few weeks time so be warned there is lots happening. And just remember, your sister is very good at coping with difficult situations but she does panic a little about them when she has not come up against them before. She will cope with this and you will cope with knowing that she is finding life a little difficult.

“You know she has said in the past how big a help it is for her when you let her know what is happening in your life – perhaps now would be a good time to do that.

“Now I know that you like to read all of her news, Bring in a print out of all the e-mails she has sent you over the weekend when you come in on Monday and you can find out what has been happening while you are with me.

“I do hope that the end of your holiday is going well and you are feeling slightly better about starting back again. You know you can do it and we are always here to give you a little extra support if you should need it. Have a lovely weekend. June.”

Donal thought about it for a moment and smiled. Here was yet another way in which all of these people were looking out for him and making sure that he was doing alright. He didn’t like being with people the way his sister did, and did all he could to actively avoid it. But to just see the way that people cared enough to remember his needs and tried to meet them whether or not he recognised the things that were difficult made him think that some people weren’t so bad after all. Sitting down he thought about all that had been happening in the last few weeks and began to write a message to his sister.

Edited to make the paragraphs stand out properly

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#227: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:02 am

I've read all the posts since you were able to start again as you posted them, and now, having just found this latest one I've gone back and re-read all four together.

As I know I've said before, you are really teaching us all so much about what it's like to live with various levels of Asperger's Syndrome. I love both Rachel and Tamara, and it's good to meet Donal and to see how much he and Tamara rely on each other for support. I know you warned us that there wasn't much Chalet in this latest piece, but I actually think it's important to the main plot that you have shown us this relationship between Dougal and Tamara. June sounds like another very caring support person, too and clearly understands Donal's particular needs and anxieties.

I'm also thrilled to see how the relationship between Len and Tamara is developing - and how quick both Len and Hilda were to reassure Tamara that they regard her both as an excellent teacher and a vital support for Rachel in what for her is such a completely new environment.

Thank you again, Squirrel, for sharing this with us. Now if only Jo Maynard doesn't overwhelm Rachel completely, all will be well - thank goodness both Tamara and Len will be there to help.

 

#228:  Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria PostPosted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:08 pm

Thank you for the lovely long posts, love the image of the girls 'en pointe'
I have seen lots of that sort of thing at work and it is so typical.
Thanks squirrel

 

#229:  Author: mouse, Location: UK PostPosted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 11:00 pm

Hi Squirrel,

I like your description of Tamara's school life after she left Primary. It is so true.

 

#230:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:03 pm

Squirrel, I have just caught up on all I have missed in the last 2 weeks and I am overwhelmed. How well you write about all the problems of Asperger's, and how these problems impact on the person involved and on people around.

It is a steep learning curve for all of us and is teaching us not only to help and understand people with the condition, but to help and understand all our fellow-creatures, and to treat them with respect and sensitivity. None of us is perfect - each and every one of us needs others to understand where we are coming from.

Bless you, Squirrel.

 

#231:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:02 am

Thank you for so many lovely updates Squirrel

There's so much I feel I ought to comment on, but all I can say at the moment is "wow". Your writing is so powerful and so vivd, I find myself believing the situation is real, and is happening exactly as it is written.

 

#232:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:52 pm

Thanks for all your comments. I have no idea where this next peice came from. In fact I'm sure that reading other people's drabbles is dangerous when it comes to giving bunny's ideas! However since it is now written you may as well have it now! I've a few ideas for the next part so hopefully with said bunny's cooperation I should be able to get on with it soon!

Tamara thought about how she was going to see if Len would be happy joining them as they walked over to her mothers’ house. Len being a married woman did not live in the chalet, and was at this moment at home caring for her young family. After breakfast she went to the telephone and put a call through. She emerged from the phone call dazedly realising that she was now going to visit two different homes over the course of the day.

Len opened the door and smiled at her. “Tamara, welcome to my home. I hope you slept well.” Tamara smiled shyly. “Thanks Len.” Realising that this was a bit of a trial for the younger woman Len led the way through to the sitting room. “If you want to take a seat and watch the children I’ll go and get us a drink.” She was off before Tamara had had a chance to take half of this in, and half a minute later a young child tumbled over to her and sat on the ground looking up at her.

The next thing she knew the child had pulled herself up holding on to Tamara’s legs and was standing with her arms in the air, looking to be lifted. “Why hello, who are you?” Tamara asked as she duly picked her up. This young child was younger than Len’s youngest and older than Phill’s oldest children both of whom Tamara had already met.

The little girl smiled at her and began playing with Tamara’s hair. A few minutes later Len walked in “Ah I see you have met young Tamzin. Mamma named her of course. She’s an adoptee of Con’s, and will be Zini for everyday, its not everyone who can go around with their full name all of the time!” Tamara smiled at the small child in her arms.

“Oh, I didn’t think about it. Sometimes my brother Donal calls me Mara. He’s been one of the few who care enough to do that until recently.” Tamara thought for a while, perhaps Len would soon become one of the few. Then to turn the subject and hide what she was thinking she purposefully turned the conversation.

“ How is Con anyway? I’ve not heard much about her or Margot recently.” Len smiled up at her. “Oh didn’t you know. Con and her crew are staying with us for the next little while. This is a very packed house. I honestly don’t know how Mamma coped with all of us running round her feet when we were younger!”

“Oh but you three were that bit older than the rest. I can’t imagine how she coped with your arrival. I know that I have never met triplets before. But once you were older, well, I’ve heard that you were always particularly responsible.”

“You’ve been hearing those old yarns have you. Yes, they stereotyped us quite early and I guess we did our best to live up to the moulds – at least in public. I was the responsible one, Con the dreamer, and Margot the mischief maker. I don’t know that the others were quite so stereotypical, but then I guess that with us being the eldest, and Mamma’s children, we got the most attention!”

Tamara gasped and couldn’t help but start to giggle. “You don’t mean that surely Len” she protested. Len looked down at her feet to hide her dancing eyes, before looking up again. “No of course not Tamara, but I did have to do something to help you forget your nerves. Honestly you looked like you thought I was going to bite you or something!”

Tamara blushed. “Well, I’ve never been here before, and I didn’t really want to intrude upon your leisure time. There is little enough of it, and with your family needing your attention like that…” Len cut her off quickly. “Tamara, my family are dear to me of course, but I can see them anytime. Now if you have a problem I want to hear it!”

“Its not a problem exactly, but I do want a bit of a favour. Would you mind coming over to the school later and accompanying Rachel and I over to be with your mother. It just that she is as you nearly commented yesterday a very voluble person, and I don’t want Rachel to be overwhelmed by her.”

“Yes I can see the problem, and of course I would love to join you. I was only going to stay away to ensure there are a few less people around.”
“I think that it will be better if there are a few more people she knows. Joey…” Tamara blushed. “I’m sorry, I’ve not been given permission to call your mother that. Mrs Maynard isn’t planning on having a full house is she?”

Len laughed at her. “My mother moves very much with the times, its an age since anyone called her “Mrs Maynard” to her face, so you had better not go doing it in private either!” she Joked. Tamara laughed a little uneasily. “Sorry, I just didn’t want to be rude” she murmured.

Her tone caused Len to look up at her enquiringly. Then realization dawned on her. “Tamara dear, I’m sorry, I keep on forgetting that you wont be used to my sense of humour yet. I was teasing you. Forget about it lass, there’s nothing wrong with getting confused.” Tamara nodded to show she accepted what Len was saying. Seeing it the older woman continued.

“You know, you may well try to hide the things you find difficult too much. I mean without knowing it I could say many things which unsettle you. It might be a good idea if you let us see when we confuse you, or at least let us know about it after. How else can we learn otherwise?

“I know I have never come across AS before, neither in a pupil or colleague. As we said about Rachel, it’s a learning process. We can’t learn how to support you better if you don’t tell us when we do things wrong!”

Tamara looked up at her again and decided to tease in her turn. “Well…” she started, “You know yesterday while we were outside the staffroom?” She asked. Len agreed that she did and so Tamara continued. “You referred to people, well me, needing to be ‘on my toes’ when I went over to your mothers this afternoon”

Len uttered a startled grunt at this statement and Tamara continued with a question. “Have you any idea what that made me think of?” At Len’s decided negative she finished the statement off by suggesting “What about a picture of all the girls walking ‘en Pointe’ the whole of the time they were with her!”

With this ridiculous picture the pair of them began to giggle and didn’t stop until Tamara had to head back to the Chalet.

However regardless of the fact that she laughed at the image Tamara had created, Len had picked up the point behind the fun and decided to try and ensure that she did not confuse the other teacher over how literally her comments should be taken again.

Edited to make the paragraphs stand out clearly

Last edited by Squirrel on Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:32 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#233: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:12 pm

Another wonderful piece, Squirrel - I'm glad I was correct in my feeling that Len and Tamara are going to be great friends. And that Tamara is not only ready to listen to Len's suggestions, but is already comfortable enough with her that she can tease her, as she does at the end.

Once again you are showing us so much about what will help AS people to cope well in the everyday world - thank you so much.

I hope between the two of them, they will prevent Rachel feeling too overwhelmed at Joey's tea party.

Looking forward to more - all right, I know I'm being greedy when you have only just posted this, but......!

 

#234:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:41 pm

Joey voluble? Never!! Laughing

What a lovely piece of writing, Squirrel. They clearly are beginning to feel really comfortable with each other, which can only be good for Rachel as well as Tamara.

Thank you for making it even clearer how Tamara, and possibly Rachel, will take things people say quite literally - as Elder says, it's good that Tamara can make a joke of it.

 

#235:  Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:42 pm

Also really nice to see Len's home and family life, and how welcoming she is there. Gives a lot more to her character than just seeing her in school would, and to their friendship!

Thank you Squirrel

 

#236:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:49 pm

Caught up on this again!

Thanks Squirrel - It's lovely to see Len at home as well as at school - and she is being a really good friend to Tamara.

The relationship between Tamara and Donal is really strong - you had established that already, but showing us Donal's thoughts when he got her email, helped to bring it out even more.

Liz

 

#237:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:13 pm

I have finally caught up on this one, and it is amazing!

 

#238:  Author: niscii as guest,  PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:09 pm

Just caught up with a huge chunk of this, once again its fabbity fab!

 

#239:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 7:58 pm

Chapter ? Visiting Jo

Rachel skipped along beside Len while Joanne walked over with Tamara. Len had decided that this would be a good chance for her to get to know Rachel slightly better. “Tamara was telling me that you seemed to enjoy looking at the pictures of York Rachel.” She commented.

“Oh I do like the pictures, but some places seem nicer than the others. I couldn’t stand looking at that tower place – too many bad things happened there.” Len smiled at this description.
“Yes, Cliffords tower is one that has had a rather chequered history. So that was the building you disliked the most, how about the best one?”

Rachel smiled quietly to herself. There was no competition for that one.
“Oh I just love the small church that is half hidden by that towering building – the Minster. The Minster’s alright, but this place has a special magic of its own.”

“I think you are meaning St Michael le Belfry” Len returned. “You are right; it’s a lovely little church. Ignored by many I think, but those who notice it are called back to it time and again. It seems to act like a magnet” She commented thoughtfully. She was recalled by Rachel’s laugh. “What’s so funny Rachel?” She asked quietly.

Rachel sobered at once. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have laughed, but, well, it’s a building not a magnet and even if it was, I’m not metal!” Len looked at her quietly before returning with her own apology. “It’s not you who should be apologising Rachel, it’s me. Tamara warned me about literal interpretations earlier on today when she came over to ask if I would meet you here. I should have remembered.”

Rachel smiled shyly at her, she wasn’t used to adults apologising to her, even if they had made mistakes. “Its alright, if you were only warned this morning then you haven’t had long to learn it yet, and if you have been doing it for years that takes a lot of changing. And if you didn’t notice, I did it too. I said the building had a kind of magic of its own. No one in their right mind would say that a building could possibly be magic!”

Len just had to grin again at that statement as well before turning the talk a little. “You know, my sister Con is a writer. She has published poems. I’m not sure if the poem I’m thinking of has been published or not, but I do remember her writing one about St Michael’s.”

“You have a sister who is a published author?” Rachel asked in astonishment. “I never thought I would have a teacher who was related to an author!
“Oh it gets worse than that.” Len responded solemnly. “My mum’s an author too.” At this Rachel seemed more interested in what she was saying than ever so Len continued quietly.

“Of course you would never connect Mamma and Con together. Both of them use their maiden names, so Con is Con Maynard, while Mamma goes by the name Bettany.”
“Bettany!” Rachel exclaimed. “Why, Mrs Entwhistle, what is her first name?” Len looked up, not quite following the reasons for the excitement that she was beginning to see in Rachel. “Well, she is commonly known as Joey, but her publishing name is Josephine M. Bettany.”

“oh oh, you can’t mean it surely! I mean I know that Sarah told me she still had strong ties with the school, but she couldn’t live next door. Surely she couldn’t be the mother of one of my teachers, and the grandmother of some of the girls I know!!! This is amazing”

At that Rachel rushed off to fling herself on Joey who was now standing at the door of her house to welcome them all. “Oh Mrs Maynard are you really my favourite author? Did you really write all of those books? Have you anything that I can look at that belongs to your writing? I wouldn’t want to actually touch them, but just to look!”

Joey, looking rather amazed turned round and led the way into the house without saying a word while Len joined Tamara murmuring quietly “And to think we were worried about Mamma overwhelming Rachel. It seems she might just have met her match!”

 

#240:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:10 pm

I love it, Squirrel, all of it! Laughing Wink

Especially the bit about the building not being a magnet, and the fact that Jo may have met her match. Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes

Your sense of humour has really come to the fore here. Good on you. And you're teaching us still more at the same time.

God bless you, my dear. Wink

 

#241:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:56 pm

Lovely Squirrel

Especially that last line about Jo meeting her match!

Liz

 

#242: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:42 pm

Squirrel, this is brilliant - I just love the various actions and reactions - and laughed out loud at the humorous bits. Joey might just have met her match in Rachel - at least I think Rachel is going to enjoy this tea party, despite her initial apprehension!

I so agree with Rachel's reaction to St. Michael Le Belfrey - it's a lovely little church. That's not to say the Minster doesn't have a beauty all its own, because it does - but it's *so* vast! I agree with her view of Clifford's Tower, too - even more than 800 years after the events there, it still has a sinister force to it - though the view from the top is wonderful!

Thank you again, Squirrel, you have so much to teach the rest of us and you are doing it so well, too!

 

#243:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:19 pm

Great posts, Squirrel! Cliffords Tower scares me because very time I see it, it seems to be leaning just a little bit more!

I'm really liking Len in this. She seems a lot more real than she often does in the books.

Thank you, Squirrel.

 

#244:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:04 am

I ought to have known better than to try to leave it where it was last night. I guess I should know by now that bunnies like to bite in the evening if they have the slightest chance so I ended up going ot bed and then getting back up again to finish it off. Ah well. Thanks for all the comments, and mary hope you have an enjoyable day today.

Chapter ? To visit with an Author

Rachel kept up her whirlwind like activity for the majority of the visit. There were so many things for her to do – meet all of the grandchildren, see the old photographs, listen to the piano, join in one or two harum scarum games, and all of the time keep Joey firmly in eye view.

She occasionally managed to get a few moments to question her a bit more closely as to her works and even managed to extract a promise that she could have a lend of one of the own copies of her new books whenever they were published.

What she didn’t know was that Joey often had far more of these than she knew what to do with and was more than happy to have someone take them off of her hands. They did as Christmas presents for a few of the grandchildren, but while some of them still loved her writing the rest felt she was a bit outdated now and were far more interested in more modern writers. Rachel would never have believed this of course.

Eventually however Tamara found her coming close to her and hanging round a little. “Hey, how you holding up?” she queried. Having been prone to such behaviour in the past herself she knew how draining that level of stressed up excitement could be. “Um, I’m just about managing it I guess, I’m pretty tired though”

“Not long now, though you will need to calm yourself down completely when we get back or you won’t sleep.” Rachel smiled tiredly. “I know, yet the funny thing is that just now I feel so tired that I think I’d fall asleep if I wasn’t in a place which there was so much happening in, and yet when I go to bed…”

“Your head will start up and not let you get to sleep” Tamara finished off for her. Rachel looked up, surprised. “How on earth did you know that?” she asked her. “Cause in that way you are just like me.” Tamara responded quietly. “Now I think they will be beginning to wonder where you have got to. Why don’t you go and join them again, and let them know that we will have to head back in half an hour”.

Hearing this Rachel suddenly looked upset. “But why do we have to go, I want to stay here.” She responded petulantly. Tamara smiled sadly at her. “Honey, I know, I know what its like to be full of so many conflicting feelings. We’ll have to go partly because you are beginning to need your own space again, you’re over excited love, and you need the chance to wind down.

“We also need to go because we will be late for the next part of the school day. You have never experienced a Saturday evening before. Joanne would be reluctant to miss it though.”

Rachel, hearing all of this, found her mind stuck on one part of it. “You mean that this, what I am feeling is excitement?” she asked. “From what I have felt in the past I would imagine that what you are feeling is a fair bit of excitement, mixed in with a lot of stress.

“I’m not surprised that you don’t recognise it, I don’t when I feel it, I’ve just learned to recognise the way I behave when I feel that way – I often comment that “I’m high” when I feel that way because I have recognised the way I am behaving as being the way I behave when I am excited and stressed.

“Anyhow that’s enough of this, why don’t you go and join the others for the last little while and let Len and myself finish our conversation.”

With that Rachel rushed off to join Joanne for one last game with the babies, and to look devotedly on her beloved author once again.

 

#245:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:23 am

That was lovely Squirrel.

It's beautiful the way Tamara is not just showing understanding to Rachel, but also sharing her own experience with her.

Thank you Kiss

Liz

 

#246:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:02 pm

awww thank you Squirrel

Rachel seems to have coped better than anyone could have hoped this afternoon. I'm just worried there may be some kind of repurcussions later.

 

#247:  Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:25 pm

Whose been feeding that bunny??? *looks around the room suspiciously* Well whoever it was had better rescue me by sending some more cause I didnt expect this to pop up in the story line!

Later on she was to regret that she had not remained with them...

 

#248: Rachel Tests the Chalet School Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:31 pm

Another great episode, Squirrel - I could feel Rachel's excitement all the time I was reading. It's great that Tamara can not only relate to what Rachel's feeling but share the fact that she herself can have such similar experiences.

But I am a little concerned about the probably inevitable let down period when they get back to school.

 

#249:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:38 pm

Squirrel wrote:
Whose been feeding that bunny??? *looks around the room suspiciously* Well whoever it was had better rescue me by sending some more cause I didnt expect this to pop up in the story line!

Later on she was to regret that she had not remained with them...


Worries...why what happened???

Thank you, Squirrel.

 

#250:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:53 pm

That was great, and as I'm on my own in the computer-room, I could actually have a little giggle out loud!

 

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House


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