The CBB :: View topic - The Swiss Family Watson

#1: The Swiss Family Watson - Chapter II Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:33 pm

Here's the next bit! The first bit can be found at...

The Swiss Family Watson Chapter I (Part I)
The Swiss Family Watson Chapter I (Part II)

and the prequels can be found at the links below...

Long Road Home

A Second Chance Part One
A Second Chance - Part Two
A Second Chance - Part Three
A Second Chance - Part Four
A Second Chance - Part Five

...or PM me if you'd like the docs without the yibble

Evadne returned to the terrace, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a plate of Guilia’s mouthwatering biscotti in another. She’d only had lunch an hour or so ago, just before she started packing up the dresser, but she could always make room for her cook’s delicious biscuits, especially when they were warm out of the oven.

Pulling back her chair, she sat down at the table again, popped a biscotti in her mouth and picked up the 1955 album again. Then taking a sip of her coffee, she opened it to the first page, smoothing back the tracing paper. Seeing the first photograph, she burst out laughing, almost spraying her coffee everywhere, and turned her head to look fondly at the big, wooden wendy house that stood near the long hedge that hid the view down to the tennis court. She had completely forgotten what that house had started out as…

==

“Dad, can we go now?”

Edgar stopped hammering and turned to face his son. “Did you say something?”

Ned put his hands on is hips and shook his head in despair. “I’ve been shouting at you for the last five minutes!”

“Sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the hammer. What did you want?”

“Can we go and get the boat now? You promised we could pick it up today and it’s already two o’clock.”

Edgar looked at his watch and frowned. “I don’t know, Ned. I promised Evvy I’d listen out for Henry while she got some sleep. You know he’s been playing up for the last two nights.”

“He’s already screamed twice and she’s had to get up - you can’t hear anything out here when you’re hammering! She said your babysitting skills were ‘about as good as a chocolate teapot’!” Edgar winced and his son grinned back at him. “So can we go?”

“Okay, I’ll go and talk to her.” Putting the hammer down in front of the kennel he had almost finished building, he got to his feet. “You go and get the ropes from the basement and put them in the boot of the car – they should have plenty, but you never know.”

As Ned ran off to do his bidding, Edgar surveyed the kennel quickly. There wasn’t much left to do now – just the last of the roof to fasten on and a quick lick of paint to apply to the front where he hadn’t been able to finish the previous day. He had plenty of time to go and collect the boat and still get it all done before dinner. Satisfied with his work, he made his way across the lawn, in through the back door, and upstairs to go and find his wife. She had been in bed since they’d had lunch, an hour and a half previously, trying to catch up on some sleep as Henry’s incessant crying had kept her up for the two previous nights and she was feeling almost dead on her feet. As Edgar had slept through most of the din, she had told him in no uncertain terms that he was on Henry-watch this afternoon, but if his son was to be believed, he was not doing a very good job.

Reaching the bedroom, he opened the door, poking his head round, and was relieved to see her lying in bed, her back towards him. He was just about to tiptoe out again when she spoke.

“You may as well come in – I’m wide awake anyhow.” Edgar gave her guilty smile as she sat up and glared at him. “Fat lot of use you are as a babysitter! You haven’t heard him once over that racket you were making out there!”

“I know, I’m sorry. I just wanted to get the kennel out of the way today,” he replied, walking across to sit down on the edge of the bed. “You did ask me to get it finished, after all.”

Evadne rolled her eyes. “Put it all on me, why don’t you! You’re the one who started the thing instead of getting a professional to do it! Have you finished it then?”

“Almost. No more than an hour’s work to do, I’d say. Ned wants to go and pick up the boat though.”

“Now?”

Edgar nodded. “I did promise them we’d get it today. Would you mind dreadfully if we went? We’ll be back by four at the latest.”

“I suppose not,” she responded resignedly. “I’m not gonna get any sleep today anyway, at this rate.”

“Well Guilia and the girls’ll still be here. Maybe they can listen out for him?”

“Maybe.” She didn’t sound entirely convinced. “Go on then, off you go. Are you taking the Mercedes?”

Edgar shook his head and grinned. “I was thinking your Renault might be more suited to the job, seeing as it’s already got a few dents here and there.”

“Excuse me!” his wife replied indignantly, hitting him on the arm. “They’re not dents, they’re marks of character!”

“Whatever you say,” he replied with a grin. Then pecking her on the cheek, he got to his feet. “Right, I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I’ll ask Guilia to keep an ear open for Henry - you try and get some rest.”

“Should have more success with you not here!” she muttered loudly, as she wriggled back under the covers, and chuckling, Edgar left the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Half an hour later, the two girls and Ann were playing in the back garden when through the open window of the nursery, they heard him start crying again. They could hear Guilia in the kitchen, singing loudly and banging pots and pans around, clearly oblivious to the noise that the baby was making, and mindful of her sleeping stepmother, Thea decided to take matters into her own hands. Running in through the open French doors, closely followed by the other two, she reached Henry’s bedroom, seemingly before Evadne was woken, and running over to the crib, she bent down and picked her little brother up in her arms.

She rocked him back and forth, cradling him gently, but it seemed to make little difference. His yells got slightly quieter, but he continued to wimper, and Thea, who of all the family was the one who generally had the most calming influence on the little boy, looked at the other two confused.

“Why won’t he stop crying? He’ll wake Mummy soon!”

“Let me try.” Marcia held out her arms, but Thea shook her head and backed away slightly.

“No, you might drop him,” she replied somewhat officiously, and, it has to be said, unfairly as Marcia was extremely careful with her brother, whatever she may be like with everything else.

Unsurprisingly, Marcia was more than a little offended. “I won’t drop him!”

“You might!”

“Wont!”

Thea opened her mouth to continue the argument when Ann suddenly butted in. “Maybe he needs changing?”

This seemed to make sense, so Thea walked him across to the dresser that doubled as a changing table, stood on a stool that Ann pulled up, and laid him gently down on the towels spread out on the top. Then jumping off the stool, she bent and opened the bottom draw to pull out a nappy, only to find it empty.

“Marcia, go and get a nappy from the laundry,” she ordered, turning to face her sister.

Fed up with being bossed about, Marcia pulled a face at her. “Get it yourself!”

“I have to stay here with Henry!”

“No you don’t, Ann and me can stay here!”

Thea rolled her eyes. “Fine, stay here with him then, but don’t touch things – Mummy showed me how to do the changing.”

“She showed me too!” Marcia retorted, sticking her tongue out at her sister’s retreating back. Then walking over to the dresser, she climbed up on the stool and began to undo the pins on her brother’s nappy.

Ann watched her, a little concerned. “Shouldn’t we wait for Thea like she said?”

Marcia shook her head vigorously. “She thinks she knows everything! I’ve watched Mummy loads of times, it’s easy.” Ann looked unconvinced, but undeterred, Marcia laid the pins to one side and pulled off the nappy, screwing her nose up at the stench. “Here, take this,” she said, handing it to a horrified Ann, who took it gingerly, holding it out at arms length.

“It smells horrid!”

“That’s ‘cause it’s a number two,” her friend replied knowingly. “Put it in that bag on the floor, then we’ll take it downstairs when we’re finished,” then picking up a flannel, she rinsed it under the nearby sink, and began to wipe her brother clean. That done, she picked up the talcum powder, turned it upside down and shook it hard, sending a cloud up in the air and causing herself to cough.

“Isn’t that too much?” Ann asked, regarding her sceptically.

Marcia shook her head. “Mummy always uses lots,” she replied, dusting herself down, as she was now looking a little white. “It stops rashes or something.” Then turning back to her brother, she placed the talc back on the dresser and surveyed him proudly. “See, told you it was easy – we just need the clean nappy now! That’ll show Thea for being a know-all.”

All of a sudden, Henry decided that he wasn’t quite done and sent up a graceful golden arc of pee, hitting his sister square on the forehead. She shrieked and toppled backwards off the stool, landing on her backside on the rug, as Thea returned with the clean nappy, just in time to see what happened. She and Ann stared at each other for a split second, and then both dissolved into fits of giggles.

Maria got to her feet and glared at the pair of them. “Shhh you ninnies, you’ll wake Mummy!” she hissed, reaching for a towel to wipe her face.

“Too late, Mummy’s already awake,” came a new voice from the doorway, and the three of them span round to face Evadne. “What’s going on?” she asked, surveying the scene.

Marcia glanced at her brother, who was now gurgling happily on top of the dresser, waving his legs in the air, and then looked back at her stepmother with wide eyes. “Henry started crying so we tried to change his nappy, but then he sprayed me!” she responded honestly.

“So I can see,” Evadne replied, trying hard not to laugh. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“’Cause Daddy said you needed to sleep,” Thea put in, still giggling, “and we’ve watched you lots of times, so we thought we’d do it ourselves.”

“Well that’s very kind of you, but you should still have woken me or got Guilia to help you,” Evvy replied sternly. “You’re too young to do this on your own, and now you know what happens when you don’t know what you’re doing.” She looked Marcia up and down, a smile twitching at the edge of her lips. “You’re not to try changing him again without either me or Daddy here, understand?” All three nodded earnestly. “Right, Marcia, go and put that dress in the laundry and then go and run yourself a bath. I’ll come and help you wash your hair in a few minutes. Oh, and take that dirty diaper with you. And you two go back outside and play.”

Marcia departed to do as she was told, Thea and Ann following behind, still giggling, and Evadne sighed and turned her attention to her son. By the time she had him cleaned and dressed, he was wide awake, and deciding to give sleep up as a bad job, she gathered a few of his things, put him in his basket and headed downstairs.

And so, when Edgar returned an hour later, he found his wife and eldest daughter settled on a rug in the garden, Henry lying next to them in his basket, sucking on one of his toys. As it happened, he needn’t have worried which car he took to collect the boat, for the previous owners offered to sail it round to the Watsons’ jetty free of charge. Ned had clamoured to go with them, with the excuse of showing them which was the right house, and as Edgar appeared in the garden, he saw the boat just coming in to moor.

“Boat’s here if you’re interested,” he called out with a grin, and Thea instantly jumped to her feet and ran down to have a look.

Edgar followed her down to the water and they stood on the jetty as they watched it approach. “Where are your sister and Ann?”

“Taken Scrabble for a walk,” Thea replied, staring open mouthed at the family’s new acquisition. She had been imagining a small two-man dinghy, not the sizeable yacht that Edgar had decided would fit the bill. ‘Daddy, it’s really big – look at it next to the rowing boat!”

Edgar smiled. “Well there are lots of us to fit on if we want to go out all together. Good job we’ve got a big boathouse, eh?”

Thea nodded as the boat pulled alongside the jetty and Ned jumped off, a wide grin lighting up his face. “Dad, it’s so cool! It’s got a little room in there and everything! And they let me hold the ropes for a bit too – sailing’s so much fun! Can we go out in it now? Please?”

“Can we, Daddy?”

Their faces fell as Edgar shook his head. “Not today, Mummy’s too tired to take us out and I don’t know what I’m doing yet. There’s no point in grouching,” he added sternly, as they both began to complain, “I’m not changing my mind. If Mummy agrees and the weather holds, we can go out tomorrow. There are plenty of other things to keep you occupied for now - why don’t you go and play tennis or something,” then ignoring what else they had to say, he turned to thank the previous owners and offer them a lift home.

They declined, stating that it was only a mile or so and they fancied the walk, so Edgar saw them out and then returned to join his wife. She looked up with a smile as he sat down next to her on the rug.

“I gather from the noise that the boat was a hit?”

“Something like that!” he replied with a grin. “I rather think I’ve volunteered you to take everyone out tomorrow though.”

“That’s fine – just as long as it’s not today. I don’t think my mind’s quite right just now!”

“How are you feeling?” he asked, looking slightly concerned at the dark shadows below her eyes.

“Tired, but okay. Oh Edgar, you’ll never guess what happened to Marcia,” she said with a giggle, and recounted the story of Marcia’s attempt to change Henry, causing her husband to guffaw loudly.

As she finished speaking, he sat up straight and wiped his eyes. “She never learns, does she? Sorry they woke you though. Do you want to go up and get some sleep now I’m home?”

Evadne shook her head. “It’s the weekend, I’d rather spend my day with you and then sleep tonight - providing this young man does so as well, of course,” she added, leaning over and glancing at her son.

Edgar smiled and shifted position so that his back was against the trunk of the large tree under which they were sitting. “Well why don’t you get some rest here now,” he said patting his lap. “I’m not going anywhere else this afternoon, so I can watch him while you have a nap, at least.”

Evadne returned his smile and curled up on her side, her head resting on his legs. It didn’t take long for her to start drifting off in the peace and quiet of the late afternoon, the only sounds being the birds singing, the quiet hum of activity on the lake and the odd distant yell from the tennis court where Ned and Thea were now playing. Edgar stared around him for a while, soaking up the atmosphere and gently stroking his wife’s hair, and then for want of anything else to do, he picked up her copy of ‘Tender is the Night’ that was lying beside her and began to read.

He had just finished chapter three when there was a shout from the terrace and Scrabble came haring out of the french doors, closely followed by Marcia and Ann. As Ann followed the puppy down towards the lake, trying to catch him, Marcia came to a halt in front of her parents.

“Daddy, Scrabble’s…”

“Shhh!” Edgar hastily brought a finger to his lips and pointed to his now-slumbering wife and son.

She stared at him for a second, and then continued in a whisper. “ Daddy, Scrabble’s just piddled on Millicent Mary again!”

Edgar heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes. For reasons unbeknownst to them all, about two weeks previously, at the start of the summer holidays, Scrabble had taken a dislike to Millicent Mary and had begun to either bark viciously at her, or cock his leg on her, at varying intervals. They had tried everything to deter him, with no success (Marcia was convinced that he was jealous of their original ‘pet’) and it was this that had prompted Edgar to begin building the kennel in the first place, the girls being insistent that the dog would get cold if just left outside with no shelter, especially overnight.

Gently lifting Evadne’s head, he slipped his legs out from under her, being careful not to wake her, and got to his feet. “Right, that’s it,” he proclaimed quietly. “Marcia, go and get some soapy water and clean it up, will you. Then you and Ann can come and help me finish painting the kennel. I’ve had about enough of this,” and striding across the lawn to far side of the terrace, he picked up his hammer and got back to work.

Evadne awoke a couple of hours later to see everyone crowded around the kennel hooting with laughter. Smiliing to herself, she got to her feet, lifting her son out of his basket as the noise had woken him as well, and made her way across to join them.

“You finished then?” she asked her husband as she approached him.

Edgar looked round with a grin. “Certainly have! She’s in already, and very happy about it if Marcia’s to be believed,” he added with a wink.

At that moment the children moved aside, giving her a clear view of the owner ensconced in her new abode. Evadne burst out laughing. “I still can’t believe you’ve spent the last two weekends building a kennel for Millicent Mary,” she chuckled.

“The things we do for our children, eh?” he replied, raising an eyebrow, and then he started laughing as Scrabble sat down at his feet, tail wagging and what looked like a wide grin on his face. “Not to mention our pets!”

Last edited by Josie on Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:29 pm; edited 49 times in total

#2: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:44 pm

Chapter 2 - lovely. And a wonderful twist at the end. Very Happy

#3: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:53 pm

Yay it's back! Thanks Josie Kiss

#4: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:17 pm

Yay for the Watsons!

thank you Josie. I was completely take in by the ending and was expecting Edgar to have made a collapsible kennel by mistake! Lovely twist there.

#5: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:19 pm

I did wonder by the time the talk about Millicent Mary being attacked was begining if the kennel would end up being for her rather than Scrabble - it makes sense when you think about how much Marcia thinks of MM.

Thanks for starting again Josie, tis great Very Happy

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

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:42 pm

Hurrah!

Thanks Jo - a lovely beginning

Laughing

at the nappy changing!

Rolling Eyes

at Edgar's baby-sitting deficiencies

Very Happy

at the excitement over the new boat - please don't drown anybody!

Liz

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

Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:37 pm

Love it Jo!!

#8: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:40 am

Oh gorgeous!!

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

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:53 am

Lovely to see the Watsons back so quickly.

And I was so taken in by the dog kennel!

#10: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:32 am

Thank you so much, Josie!

ROFL

Millicent Mary's new abode ROFL

#11: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:24 am

Wow, what a lovely long first chapter.

Thanks for starting it so quickly, Josie.

#12: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 2:21 pm

Thanks, Josie, a lovely new chapter!

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

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:30 pm

awww thank you Josie

I think the Watsons are my fave family on the board at the moment - they're just so real and believable. You're doing a great job, please keep it up

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

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:52 pm

Lovely start to the new part, thanks Josie. Laughing

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:17 am

That was brilliant Jo

Jess got really upset when they had a Punch and Judy show in nursery and the baby sprayed out water when they chnged it's nappy and she got hit - with 2 baby brothers she knew all about it and thought it was real

#16: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:28 am

“Okay, so one last time, what are the rules?”

“Water is not for messing about on, and always do what Mummy says.”

Edgar smiled and nodded at his two daughters, who beamed back at him, standing very proud and upright in their brand new lifejackets.

“Excellent. Ned, I didn’t hear you say anything just then. Come on, what are the rules?”

Ned rolled his eyes. “Water’s not for messing about on, and always do whatever Evvy says,” he recited mechanically. “Can we go now?”

“Don’t take that attitude with me, young man! Safety’s important – if you can’t take it seriously then…”

“Okay,” Evadne interrupted hurriedly, seeing her husband was on the verge of giving yet another lecture to them all on the subject, “I think we all understand it’s important, Edgar. Shall we get on, or we’ll still be standing here when it gets dark,” and holding out her hand, she helped Thea and Marcia aboard the boat before climbing on herself. “Come on, Ned, get a shove on. Edgar, we’ll be back in about an hour, and then I’ll take you out, okay?”

Edgar, who was remaining behind with Henry, nodded and untied the boat from the jetty, tossing the rope to Ned and using his foot to push the boat a small distance away. Evadne started the engine and they pulled out onto the open water, Thea sitting at the rear chatting to her stepmother, and Ned and Marcia up front, arguing over which of them got to hoist the jib. Thea looked back and gave her father a wave, and smiling, Edgar returned it and then went to join his youngest son, who was fast asleep in his basket in the shade.

It was now their second day as boat owners, and today Evadne was giving them all their first lesson in how to sail. Once they were out well away from the shore, she showed the three children how to hoist the mainsail, and her husband watched on as for the next hour she showed them basic tacking and jibing and let each of them have a go themselves. When they finally returned to the jetty, all three had flushed cheeks and beaming smiles, and leaving Evvy to tie the boat up, they jumped off and ran over to their father, all talking at once.

“Daddy, did you see? I sailed all the way past Onkel Anton’s and turned it round, but it was a bit heavy and Mummy had to help…”

“…I tacked and everything, Daddy, and Mummy showed me how to jibe too, but I got it wrong…”

“…I went right down to the Di Giovanni’s, Dad, past their house to the park. Evvy said I was best by a mile…”

“…No she didn’t!” Marcia put in indignantly and Thea stopped, mouth open, and stared at her brother.

“Don’t tell fibs, Ned, she didn’t say that.”

“She did too – she said I was the best.”

“No, you said you were best and Mummy said that's only ‘cause you’re bigger than us so you can hold the ropes better, so there!” Marcia pointed out, sticking her tongue out at her brother. “Doesn’t make you the best, it just makes you older!”

Ned opened his mouth to retort when his father, seeing the makings of a full-scale row between his children, decided to intervene.

“Well I was watching you from here, and you all looked just as good as each other,” he put in quickly, as his wife finished tying up the boat and came across the grass to join them. “Isn’t that right, dear?”

Evadne raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Isn’t what right?”

“That they were all as good as each other out there.”

“I’d say so.” She grinned round at them. “Very impressive for a first go, too. We’ll make sailors off you all in no time! You ready then?” she added, turning to her husband.

Edgar nodded. “Right, you three, keep an eye on Henry please, and no arguing or it’s bread and water for dinner and then straight to bed! And can one of you go and feed Scrabble? It’s past his food time.” Then as Thea ran off to do as he asked, he turned and followed his wife back down to the boat.

“Okay, hold it, hold it…and tack. Edgar, I said tack! Edgar! Edgar!”

Letting go of the jib sheet, Evadne jumped to the back of the boat and flung out a hand, pulling the rudder hard towards her and causing her husband to yell and let go of the mainsail. The boat turned slowly, drifting and bobbing gently on the small waves, the boom swaying to and fro.

Edgar glared at her. “What did you do that for?”

“I told you to tack!”

“I was going to!”

“When? You were about to hit someone!”

“No I wasn’t, I…” He fell silent as a small dinghy sailed passed them, dangerously close, the irate occupants haranguing them in French.

Evadne apologised profusely to the people in the other boat, and then turned back to her husband in despair. “Right, either you stop being an ass and pay attention to me, or we’re going back in now!”

“There’s no need to talk to me like I’m an idiot, I know what I’m doing!”

“No, you don’t! We’ve been out twenty minutes and that’s the second collision we’ve almost had, you’ve been hit by the boom twice and we nearly capsized a minute ago, all because you won’t listen! You should have paid more attention to the lectures you gave the kids - Marcia did better than this, and she’s nine!”

“Well I’d have tacked sooner if you’d told me there was a boat there! And I’d be perfectly capable of doing this if you weren’t shouting at me every ten seconds – how am I supposed to concentrate with you nagging at me like an old mother hen!” he replied huffily. and Evadne stared at him, temporarily speechless.

“You arrogant pig!" she eventually cried. "I’m not nagging you, I’m attempting to teach you, and you’re not even trying to concentrate! You think just because I’ve told you something once, you’re an expert.” Edgar glared back at her, unrepentant, and she reached out to grab the rudder. “I’ve had my fill of this for today, we’re heading back.”

“I can turn the boat around on my own, thank you,” he snapped, pulling the rudder away from her and causing the boat to sway dangerously.

Evadne sighed and gave him a withering look. “Edgar, stop being so stupid – you’re gonna have us over in a minute. Just let me take us in!” she pleaded, reaching for the rudder again.

Acting more like a petulant eight year old than a thirty-eight year old adult, Edgar snatched the rudder back towards him again and in doing so, brought about his undoing. The boom swung around violently, before he had time to duck, and hit him square on the chin, catching him off-balance and tipping him out of the boat into the water. Thankfully he kept hold of the main sheet so the boat didn’t drift away from him, for rather than rush to help, his wife stared at him in shock for a split-second and then collapsed in the bottom of the boat in fits of laughter.

Edgar spluttered, lifting his spare hand to wipe water out of his eyes, swam towards the boat and hauled himself up so that his head and chest were over the side. “You could at least stop howling like a hyena and help me back in,” he exclaimed indignantly, as he caught sight of her.

Evadne sat up straight and tried to get a grip on herself, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. “I’m…I’m sorry…oh that was too…”

She went off into peals of laughter again and Edgar finished hauling himself up the small steps that hung over the back of the boat, and then sat on the edge glaring at her, a large puddle of water rapidly forming at his feet. “I’m glad you think it’s so funny – I could have drowned!”

“Oh stop being such a baby!” she retorted, still giggling, as she pulled herself up so she faced him from the opposite side of the boat. “You’re wearing a life-vest – you’re hardly going to drown! Anyhow, it’s serves you right – it’ll teach you to listen to me,” and leaving him to brood over his misfortune, she lowered the mainsail, started the engine, and steered them back to the jetty.

From their vantage point on the shore, the three children had seen the whole debacle and greeted their parents with hoots of laughter as they docked the boat and came ashore.

“I can’t believe you fell out! How clumsy can you be?” Ned shouted at his father, causing his sisters to dissolve into further giggles.

Edgar walked towards them, an injured look on his face. “Why do my family find my misfortune so funny? It could have happened to any of you too.”

“No it couldn’t,” Evadne put in with a grin, “they actually listened to what they were told! And to think you were worried about them having accidents!”

Edgar stared at her for a second, and then deciding not to rise to the bait, he stalked off towards the house stating, “I’m going to have a bath!”, leaving the rest of them to pack the boat up without him.

When they were done, Evadne took Henry up to the nursery to feed and bathe him, and once she had settled him in his cot, she made her way along the landing to her bedroom, where she found her husband, bathed and changed, sitting on the edge of the bed doing up his shoes.

He looked up as she came into the room. “I suppose you’ve come to rib me some more.”

She grinned and walked over to sit next to him. “That depends – do you admit that I was right and you were wrong?”

He glared at her indignantly, but had now calmed down sufficiently enough to see the funny side of it, and a smile twitched at the edge of his lips. “Fine – you were right and I was wrong.”

“And do you agree that next time you get in the boat, you’ll listen to everything I tell you?”

“Next time I get in the boat, I’ll listen to everything you tell me.”

“And you’re sorry you acted like a complete ass?”

“I’m sorry I acted like a complete ass,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

A mischievous look came into her eyes. “And you admit that I’m always right, and you promise to do everything I ever tell you from now on and wait on me hand and foot?”

‘Now you’re pushing it!”

“Come on, you have to admit it and agree or I’ll never let you live today down,” she replied, sounding very supercilious.

“You’ll never let me live it down anyway!”

“Admit it!”

“No.”

“Admit it!”

“Right you’ve asked for it!” and sitting up, he grabbed her, pinned her down on the bed and began to tickle her.

She shrieked and tried to wriggle out of his grasp. “No…ow, Edgar…stop it…okay, okay I won’t make you admit it.” He relented and she lifted a hand to brush some hair out of her eyes. “You’re a big bully, Edgar Watson – they were unfair tactics.”

Edgar grinned down at her. “Unfair, maybe, but you have to admit they were effective!” She laughed and rolled her eyes, and he bent his head to peck her on the lips. “I really am sorry though – I should have paid more attention to what you were telling me," he added, having the grace to look a little sheepish, "I really was a bit of an ass, wasn't I?”

“You could say that!” she retorted, and at that moment they were interrupted by Thea’s voice calling her stepmother to the phone. Edgar sat up, letting her get to her feet, and she walked across to the door, before turning back to face him with a grin. “I forgive you this time, but do it again, and I’ll push you overboard myself and leave you in the middle of the lake to swim home!” and she quickly ran out of the room to take her phone call, leaving him to respond indignantly to thin air.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:25 pm

Thanks for that Josie - I managed to get some funny looks with my giggling in the office.

I agree with Evvy that tickling is definitely unfair tactics.

JackieJ

#18: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:40 pm

sounds just like my dad trying to teach me to sail last week Embarassed

'cept I didn't fall out! Smile

thanks Jo!

#19: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:52 pm

*Giggles*

I do love that you've introduced something Evvy is good at and Edgar isn't. It makes up for her deficiencies in driving Wink

Those kids are so typical of siblings Confused

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:59 pm

I love Evvy and Edgar!

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:03 pm

Sorry Edgar, but I found that hilarious too! Laughing

Thanks Jo

*resolutely ignoring the thought that the phone calls at the end of a post are usually something to wibble about*

Liz

#22: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:49 pm

Thanks, Josie.

#23: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:08 pm

Thanks Josie! Kiss

I love seeing the fab family scenes!

#24: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:16 pm

Good thing I don't have to go to the computer room anymore - everyone there would have hushing my giggles! Thanks, Josie, that was really funny!

#25: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:02 pm

LizB wrote:

*resolutely ignoring the thought that the phone calls at the end of a post are usually something to wibble about*

Me too Liz!

Thank you Jo! *trying not to wibble*

#26: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:32 pm

Thank you Josie, that was a very amusing scene.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:01 pm

Loved that Josie - and Edgar so deserved to end up overboard!!! Laughing

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

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:03 pm

I'm slightly peturbed by the phone call too - but what can have gone wrong? And Jo did kill off two major characters quite recently! So, it could be Cassie, Corney, or Elsie... hmm? Or one of the schools...

Thanks Jo!

#29: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:34 am

Splendiferous, Josie! Very Happy

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

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:06 am

Wonderful! Very funny and Edgar definately deserved to end up in the water!

Thank you Jo!

#31: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:31 pm

Thanks to Lesley for medical help with this bit. Any errors are all my own fault, so apologies in advance for any glaring ones!

“Charles says he’s been going over the books and Richardson - the new man - seems to have a good grip on the company. He says he’ll go into more detail when they come out in a couple of weeks, but it’s all looking very good - your father certainly knew what he was doing appointing him by all accounts though.”

“Well Poppa had a good business brain, I guess.”

“Very true.” Edgar skimmed through the rest of the letter from his brother-in-law, and then taking a sip of his cocoa, he looked up from his correspondence just in time to catch his wife wince and surreptitiously clutch her stomach. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing much,” she replied through gritted teeth as she felt more pain in her abdomen. “Just cramps again – women’s things. Nothing you’ll want to hear about,” she added with a grin.

Rather than returning her smile, Edgar stared back at her, concern on his face. It was now the first week of August, and he and Evadne were sitting in the snug, catching up on each other’s day and spending some quiet time together before heading off to bed. For the past few days he’d noticed that she hadn’t seemed too well, and it was beginning to worry him a little.

“Evvy, you’ve been like this for over a week now. I didn’t think this was normal when you…well…you know. You were never this bad before Henry came along.”

Evadne shrugged, trying hard to hide another twinge of pain. “Maybe things change after having a baby?”

Edgar looked unconvinced. “Well I think you need to go and see Dr. Schreiber. At the very least, he might be able to give you something for the pains.”

“I’m not making a fuss for a few cramps,” she retorted impatiently, returning her attention to the magazine she was reading. “It’ll go away soon enough.”

Her husband wasn’t put off so easily though. “Yes, and then it might just return again next month too. Come on, Evvy, you’re so tired as well – and I know it’s not just Henry, because he’s sleeping through most nights now.” She opened her mouth to protest again, but he preempted her. “Please go and see the doctor – to humour me, if for no other reason.”

She rolled her eyes, but not being in the mood for an argument, she decided to give in. “Fine, I’ll go tomorrow. But I want it noted I’m only going to please you, not because I think I need to!”

“That’s absolutely fine – I don’t care why you go, just so long as you do. I don’t want you…”

“Edgar, you’ve got your way, okay?” she interrupted wearily. “Now can we talk of something else, please – what else does Charles have to say?”

The following morning, after the family had had breakfast and her husband had left for work, she left the children in Monique’s charge, and set off into the city to fulfill her husband’s request.

She hadn’t been entirely honest with him the previous evening. The cramps and excessive bleeding that she had been experiencing for the past ten days were beginning to concern her a little as well, and she felt as if all her energy was gradually draining away. She had had similar problems the month before, and had just put it down to changes in her body after having the baby, but this month it seemed far worse. Not wanting to deal with it, however, she had been pushing her worries to the back of her mind and hoping that it would all go away. Now Edgar had forced her to face up to it, and she wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or grateful.

Arriving at the International Medical Centre, she made her way through to the reception, explained to the receptionist why she was there, and then took her place among the other patients in the waiting room. Twenty minutes later, she was reading a copy of Reader’s Digest, chuckling at the humourous anecdotes about readers and their children, when the receptionist spoke.

“Lady Watson, Dr. Schreiber will see you now.”

Two days later, she was once again sitting in the snug with Edgar, following their usual evening routine – her reading, him going through his day’s correspondence and both catching up with each other’s news. Pretending to be concentrating on her book, Evadne surreptitiously watched her husband as he read through a letter that the masthead told her came from the girls’ school.

Edgar smiled as he finished and folded it up, returning it to its envelope. “Just some information on the middle school, now that Thea’s moving up there,” he said, standing up from his chair and handing it to his wife. Then sitting down again, he heaved a sigh. “I can’t believe she’s eleven in a few months time – even Marcia’s nine and a half now. Where have the years gone?”

Evadne didn’t reply. Instead she watched him for a few more moments, and then shifted position slightly on the window seat, tucking her legs underneath her. “Edgar, I need to talk to you.”

The tone in her voice made him look up sharply, and placing the letter he had just opened onto the table next to him, he regarded her with mild alarm. “What’s happened?”

Staring down at her hands, Evadne picked at her nails briefly. Then taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes to look him in the face. “I didn’t tell you the truth on Tuesday – after I’d been to the docs I mean.” Edgar stared at her, his eyes widening, and she swallowed hard before she continued. “He didn’t tell me everything was fine. He set up an appointment at the hospital. I…I went in today – they did these tests and…”

Her voice trailed off and there was silence as Edgar took in what she had just said - his mind racing, imagining all manner of things. He knew he should ask her what else the doctor had said, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. His stomach was churning - it felt like Madeleine all over again. Eventually, swallowing hard, he pulled himself together enough to ask, “Wh…what tests?”

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I’m not sure. He said something’s wrong, but he’s not sure what it is. It could be nothing much, or it could be…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word, but he knew exactly what she meant. Seeing him battling hard with his emotions, she added, “I have to go back to Dr. Schreiber’s on Wednesday to get the results. Will you come with me?”

He nodded, blinking furiously, his eyes suspiciously bright. Then getting up from his chair, he walked across to the window, sat down next to her and wordlessly took her in his arms. She wrapped her arms back around his waist, burying her face in his chest, and they clung together in silence for a long while. Then pulling back slightly, Edgar brought his hands up to either side of her face, staring down into her bright, blue eyes.

“We’ll get through this, Evvy. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together, I promise you.”

The next few days dragged by, and it felt like an eternity to both of them before Wednesday finally came around. All weekend they had been putting on a cheerful face for the sake of the children, anxious not to worry or upset them in any way, and they found the strain exhausting. When they arrived at the medical centre, the receptionist asked them to take a seat, and she disappeared into the doctor's office. Two minutes later she returned.

“Lady Watson, go straight on through,” she said with a smile. Then as Edgar got to his feet as well, she shook her head. “Sorry, but your husband will have to remain out here.”

Evadne turned her head to look up at Edgar. “But I want him to come in with me!”

“Sorry but it’s medical centre policy,” the receptionist replied apologetically. “They’re sticklers for confidentiality I’m afraid.”

Evvy opened her mouth to argue the point, but realising they were unlikely to change their minds, and not wanting to delay things any further, Edgar squeezed her hand and said quickly, “It’s okay, darling, I’ll wait out here.”

“But…”

“Go on, it’ll be okay,” and bending down, he pecked her on the cheek and pushed her gently towards the doctor’s door.

She glanced back at him nervously as she knocked, and he flashed her a heartening smile. Then as the doctor called ‘Come in” and she disappeared through the door, closing it behind her, he sat back down in his chair, heaved a sigh and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for her return.

It was half an hour before she reemerged, her face grave and her eyes a little bright. Edgar jumped up to talk to her, but she shook her head at him and walked straight across to the receptionist to make an appointment for the following Monday. Then taking hold of her husband’s hand, she led him outside towards the car.

“Evvy, what…?”

“Let’s just get in the car first, Edgar, then I’ll tell you, okay?”

He nodded, a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. Fumbling in his pockets for his car keys, he eventually found them and unlocked her car door for her. She climbed in and he shut it behind her, before hurrying round to the driver’s side and climbing in himself.

Then turning to face her, he asked, “So? What did he say?” She didn’t reply at first, and his expression fell. “It’s not…?”

She shook her head. “It’s not that, don’t worry. It’s something called fibroids apparently”

“What’s that?”

She shrugged her shoulders, still not looking him in the eye. “They grow inside me or something – I’ll show you all the information he gave me when we get home.”

“But are they…I mean could you…?”

Shaking her head again, she gave him a slight smile. “They have to operate, but I’ll be fine.”

An intense feeling of relief flooded through Edgar’s body, and reaching out, he pulled her towards him and enveloped her in a tight hug. “Thank you, God,” he muttered into her hair as he clung to her. "Thank you."

Hugging him back, Evadne screwed up her eyes and bit her lips, trying desperately to keep her tears at bay. After a couple of minutes, Edgar pulled back and looked down at her, lifting his hand to gently stroke her cheek. “Hey, come on, darling, it’s okay,” he said, noticing the tears glistening in her eyes. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

She swallowed hard as she stared back up at him, her eyes threatening to overflow. “That’s just it, it won’t be.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, thoroughly confused. “You just said you’ll be okay – won’t you?”

She nodded. “I will be, it’s just…” She paused and took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. “They have to operate because they’re so big apparently, and because of where they are, or something. Edgar, Dr. Schreiber thinks I should have a hysterectomy. And even if I decide not to, he says I…I probably won’t be able to have any more children.” As she finally said it out loud, tears began escaping from her eyes. “We won’t be able to have our two,” and she dissolved into noisy sobs as Edgar took her in his arms again.

In case anyone's wondering why fibroids seem so much more serious here than they often do now (not that they're not serious now, if that makes sense!), from what I could find out when researching, knowledge about how to treat them and the effect they had on fertility was a far greyer area in the 50's than it is today (hysterectomy was a common treatment then), and it seems to have been presumed that infertility would result from them in more cases than not. (I'm happy to stand corrected though, if anyone knows better than me!)

Last edited by Josie on Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:53 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:33 pm

Thanks Josie , wonderful as usualcrawl, crawl, crawl

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

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:52 pm

Excellent Josie.

Poor Evvy Crying or Very sad

#34: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 8:35 pm

I read all that thinking -

"She wouldn't!"

"She might!"

I alternated betwen these ad nauseum till I saw 'fibroids' and relaxed.

Then I realised what that meant for Evvy! ((((Evvy))))

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

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:29 pm

Thanks Jo

Even though I know you're sticking with EBD so Evvy is going to be ok, I still felt Edgar's dread and his relief - and now Evvy's disappointment - how heartbreaking for them.

Liz

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

Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:32 pm

oh (((Evvy))

she must be heartbroken

I hope it will be ok in the end

#37: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:43 am

Thanks Josie. I'm glad we know that Evvy's going to be okay.

#38: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:50 am

Poor evvy...
while I'm glad it's nothing worse, that's still got to be a horrible thing to hear.

thanks jo

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

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:50 am

Thank you Josie. Well at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been but poor Evvy and Edgar.

#40: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:11 pm

Ohhhh, poor Evvy and Edgar.

#41: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:19 pm

Gradually Evadne’s storm of tears began to subside, and as she pulled her head back and lifted her hand to scrub her eyes, Edgar took his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. He watched her closely as she dried her tears, occasionally gulping for air as she tried to control her sobs. Eventually, she turned her eyes upwards to look at him, and seeing him gazing tenderly back at her, she gave him a slight smile.

“Sorry.”

Edgar returned her smile, raising his hand to the back of her head. “You’ve nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart.”

The mixture of love and sorrow in his eyes was almost too much for her to bear, and she averted her gaze as her tears threatened to return. She was still shaking from the shock of the news and the intensity of her outburst, and had to take several deep breaths to bring herself back under control.

“I…I kind of knew,” she said quietly, blinking hard and looking sideways out of the rear window. “I had a feeling it was…that something was wrong.” She gulped down the lump that was rising in her throat and stared down at her lap. ‘Everything seemed too good – something had to happen.”

“Evvy, don’t think like that!”

“But it always does.” She raised her eyes, still glistening with tears, to his face. “Why us, Edgar?”

Edgar shook his head. He didn’t have an answer. Instead he reached forward to kiss her forehead, and then turned to put the keys in the ignition.

Evadne stared at him as he started the engine. “I can’t go home yet.”

“I know. We just need to get out of here.”

He reversed the car out of the parking space and they drove off in silence, Edgar still trying to take in the news, and Evadne fighting a constant battle to stop her tears resurfacing. The day was overcast, but she took her sunglasses out of her bag and put them on, attempting to hide her red, puffy eyes.

Ten minutes later, Edgar pulled the car up in the delegates’ car park outside the Palais des Nations, choosing the most secluded parking space he could find. As he turned off the engine, Evadne stared up at the imposing building, and then turned to look at him.

“Why are we here?”

“I need to let my secretary know I won’t be in today.” He paused for a second and studied her face. “Do you want to use the cloakrooms or anything?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to see anyone – not yet.”

“Okay.” He kissed her forehead again. “I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

She watched as he walked up the pathway to the side door and as he disappeared through it, she sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Dr. Schreiber’s words were running round and round in her head. Her initial reaction had been the same as her husband’s – intense relief that it wasn’t anything life-threatening. For once, fortune seemed to be smiling on them. Her mind had wandered as he had explained what fibroids were, and how they would be able to treat them. She had nodded and smiled as he told her that an operation would be necessary, imagining how pleased Edgar would be when she gave him the news that she was going to be okay, and then she had come crashing back down to earth as Dr. Schreiber had dropped his bombshell.

Edgar was as good as his word, and returned to the car ten minutes later, his arms full of papers. Opening the rear door, he threw them on the backseat, not caring where they landed, slammed the door shut, and climbed back into the driver’s seat.

Evadne glanced behind her. “What are they?” she asked wearily, looking at the papers that were scattered everywhere.

“Work. I’ll look at them tomorrow.” Starting the engine, he pulled out of the parking space and began to drive out of the grounds. Then turning right onto the main road, he reached out to squeeze her hand. “Let’s go to our view.”

Evvy gave him a slight smile, squeezing his fingers in return, and they fell silent again. Edgar drove out of the city, heading through the suburbs on the main road leading up into the Rhone-Alps. After half an hour, he turned onto a smaller road, and then down a shaded track before coming to a halt when it became too narrow for the car to go any further. Climbing out, they walked in silence, hand-in-hand, down the narrow pathway, appearing to be heading deeper into the dense pine forest. Then all of a sudden, the trees thinned out, and they emerged onto narrow, sloping plain. It was a spot they had discovered, quite by accident, when they were still on their honeymoon and had just moved to the city. They had been out exploring the surrounding area, trying to get to know their new home, and had decided to go into the forest to investigate. Emerging onto the small plain, they had been instantly enchanted as a stunning view across the lake and the city opened out before them. It had immediately become their special place, their secret, their retreat from the pressures of everyday life where they could spend some time alone.

Evadne released her hand from her husband’s grasp and walked a little way down the slope. The clouds were lying low on the mountains on the far side of the lake, and in the distance she could see the rain falling heavily on Nyon and further round towards Lausanne. “It even looks beautiful on a day like this, doesn’t it?” she said, coming to a halt and staring down at the city below.

Edgar watched her for a moment, and then made his way down to where she stood. “It certainly does.”

Feeling his hands on her shoulders, she leant back into him. “All this on our doorstep - I guess people think we’re real lucky.” Turning around, she stared up at him, her eyes welling up again. “I’m sorry, Edgar.”

“What for?”

“The bad stuff – it follows me around.” Her jaw shook as she spoke, and Edgar lifted a hand to cup the side of her head. “Now I’ve brought it on you too.”

Shaking his head, Edgar pulled her towards him and rested his cheek on her hair. “Stop that nonsense now. You’ve brought nothing to me but happiness and fulfillment, Evvy. Do you have any idea how lonely I was before I met you, despite the children, despite my friends?”

“But…” Edgar raised a hand to her lips to silence her, but she pushed it away. “Don’t, Edgar, please.” Pulling away from him, she folded her arms across her chest and looked down at the grass. “When we go to church, I don’t ask Him for much, you know. Just that He looks after you all and keeps you safe. And what happens? Pops and Veronica die.” She paused for a second, then looked up, anger flashing in her eyes. “Two children, Edgar – that’s all I asked. Not broods like Joey and Jack, just the two. But He couldn’t let that happen, could He? He had to wreck it like He wrecks everything else!” Her voice was raised and tears started to flow down her cheeks again. “We’re good people, aren’t we? Why do these things keep happening to us? Why can’t He just leave us alone to be happy?”

Edgar reached out for her, but she backed further down the hill, turning her back on him and looking down at the lake. Then lifting her eyes to the sky, she shouted, “Why can’t you just leave us alone? You hear me? Leave my family alone!”

Moving quickly towards her, Edgar grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her, refusing to let go as she struggled against him.

“Get off of me, Edgar! Just leave me be.”

“No! Not until you calm down.” He tightened his grip around her, holding her lower arms to stop her fighting back.

Suddenly, she stopped struggling and collapsed against him, sobbing again. Edgar turned her around and held her tightly, stroking her hair and murmuring comforting words until she finally ran out of tears. Then lowering himself onto the grass, he pulled her down with him and held her close, cradling her in his arms. She sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes.

“I just want us to be happy.”

Edgar pulled his head back and gazed down at her. “I am happy, Evvy. You and the children - you make me very, very happy.” She looked up at him, and he lifted his hands to either side of her face. “Do you know what I asked Him at church on Sunday, and every day since you had those tests?” She shook her head. “I asked him to let me keep you, for you to be alright. I thought I was going to lose you.” His voice choked slightly as he spoke and he swallowed hard to clear his throat. “Evvy, I don’t know why this has happened – why any of the bad things have happened. But I do know that you’re going to be okay, that I get to keep you, and I can’t not be thankful for that.”

Evadne was quiet for a moment as she took this in. Then she shook her head and closed her eyes. “I just wanted one more, Edgar.”

Edgar wrapped his arms around her again, rocking her very gently and kissing the top of her head. “So did I, darling, and I hate that this has happened too, but it’ll be alright. I promised we’d get through whatever it was together, remember? And that’s just what we’ll do. However long it takes us, we’ll get through it, okay?”

She nodded and lifted her hand, placing it over one of his. They relapsed into silence, Evadne staring down at the grass, Edgar looking out across the lake, both momentarily lost in their own thoughts. Then Edgar released her and got to his feet, holding out his hand to pull her up.

“Come here, I want to show you something.” He led her a little further down the grass, and then pointed down towards the suburb where they lived. “That’s our house, just there. You can see Guilia’s car in the drive.” Evadne smiled slightly and nodded. “There are four pretty amazing children in there, waiting for their parents to come home so they can drive us to distraction. Shall we go and see them?”

Evvy gazed down the mountainside at their home, nestled among the trees of their leafy neighbourhood, her heart still feeling very heavy. Then turning to her husband, she lifted a hand to his face and reached up to peck him on the cheek. At that moment she felt a spot of water of her forearm, and looking up at the sky, she saw the dark clouds gathered up above.

He followed her gaze skyward.“Quick - let’s go before we get drenched,” and slipping his arm through hers, he led her back up the grass towards the car.

Last edited by Josie on Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:12 am; edited 5 times in total

#42: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:53 pm

Thank you Josie. I'm just glad she let it all out and that Edgar was there for her when she did.

Crying or Very sad

#43: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:30 pm

Oh Evvy, Edgar... They're too luvvely for bad things to happen!

Sob Crying or Very sad

Thanks Josie Very Happy

(smiling through tears!)

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

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:24 pm

Poor Evvy, feeling that she's always being punished. Glad Edgar was there.

Thanks Josie.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:43 pm

That was beautiful Jo

*cries for Evvy and Edgar*

Liz

#46: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:23 am

Poor Evvy! But I'm so glad it's not what I was thinking.

#47: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:03 am

A tough one, Evvy, but one most of us have to face at some time - "Why do the bad things happen?"

We get through them, Evvy, as you will with Edgar's help and your own courage.

Thanks, Josie.

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

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:52 am

Thank you Jo. Beautiful! I'm glad Edgar could be there with her as she let her anger and frustration out - sometimes yelling at God is all you can do!

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

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:27 pm

*hugs Edgar and Evvy*

Thanks Jo that was lovely but rather teary, Im glad they are ok though.

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

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:33 pm

Thank goodness we know Evvy's going to be alright - or she couldn't be looking through the photo albums.

#51: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 3:36 pm

Thanks, Jo, that was sad, but not as sad as it might have been! As a few people have said, all you can do sometimes is yell at God - and then trust that everything will turn out for the best, and that when we suffer, He suffers with us.

#52: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:49 pm

Three days later, Evadne was still trying to come to terms with the doctor’s diagnosis when Charles, Sarah and their two boys arrived to spend a week in Geneva. Concerned about his wife’s state of mind, Edgar had been keen to cancel or postpone the arrangements, but Evadne had persuaded him otherwise, hoping that the presence of her stepbrother and his family would help to take her mind off things a little.

So they duly arrived Saturday lunchtime, as planned, and by the time the evening came around, Edgar could see that his wife had been right.

The afternoon had been a riotous affair. This was the first time the Watson children had really got to know their two step-cousins – the days running up to Arthur and Veronica’s funerals had been too upsetting for them to really play together – and they were discovering two new friends after their own hearts. The eldest, Peter, was a year older than Ned, and as obsessed with motor cars as his younger cousin was with planes. The two of them wiled away a happy afternoon talking about engines and building models in Ned’s basement workshop.

In James, meanwhile, Marcia found a willing partner-in-crime and the pair of them spent the afternoon devising ways to wind up their elder brothers over the coming week. They had decided to begin immediately and spent the afternoon causing havoc until Edgar had eventually snapped and sent the pair of them upstairs to play quietly, under threat of being banned from all excursions if they didn’t behave themselves – a threat that seemed to be effective, for a few hours at least.

The mischief-making had amused Evadne no-end, though she made sure not to let Marcia and James know that, and it had certainly taken her mind off her problems. Although she was still subdued, the hilarity of the afternoon had brought some colour back into her cheeks again and her eyes, though still sad, were beginning to regain some of their usual shine.

Propped up against the headboard, his legs under the covers and his back resting on one of his pillows, Edgar watched her as she got changed for bed. “You were right, you know. Them visiting has done you the world of good.”

Evadne pulled her nightdress on, smoothed it down, and then turned to her vanity and began pulling out her hairpins. “Did I just hear that right?” she asked, watching him in the mirror, a feigned look of surprise on her face. “Did you admit you were wrong?”

She wore a mischievous grin as she began to brush out her hair, and after the turmoil of the last few days, the sight of it warmed Edgar’s heart. “I don’t remember saying that!” he retorted, returning her grin. “I believe I just said that you were right.”

“Adds up to the same thing in my book!”

“And what book’s that, may I ask?”

Evvy put her brush back down on the dressing table and turned to face him. “The book that says that your wife is an undeniable genius and you should recognise it more often!”

As he chuckled, she walked across to the bed, pulling back the sheets on her side and climbing in between them, and then shuffled across so that she was sitting next to him. Edgar turned to face her, slipping an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned in towards him and kissed him gently on the lips.

“What was that for?” he asked, smiling tenderly at her as she pulled back again and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Because I love you.” Bringing a hand down to rest on his chest, she paused for a moment and then gave him a slight smile. “I know I’m not good right now, but I’ll learn to live with this, Edgar, I promise you.”

Edgar covered her hand with his own, entwining his fingers with hers. “Just remember you don’t have to do it alone, okay?”

“I know. D’you want to know something?”

“What?”

Pulling her legs up under her, she shuffled round a little so that she was curled up tightly in the crook of his arm. “When I was a kid, I used to try and imagine what my husband would be like one day.”

Edgar grinned. “And do I fit the criteria?”

She frowned. “Promise me you won’t ever let on how mushy I’m about to be?”

“Not even to Mike and Corney?” he asked with an innocent air.

Evadne looked horrified. “Especially not to Mike and Corney!”

“You spoilsport!” he chuckled, then as she hit him on the chest he relented. “Alright I promise. It’s worth it to hear you be mushy anyway.”

“Okay, well,” she blushed slightly and gave him a shy glance, “you’re a thousand times more wonderful than anything I ever dreamt up.” Edgar gazed down at her, a little amused, but very touched, and she looked up into his soft, green eyes. “I’m not really sure I deserve you.”

He held her gaze for a moment, and then releasing her fingers, he brought his hand up to cup the side of her face and replied softly, “Yes, you do.” He bent his head to kiss her and then grinned. “And you’re right, that was mushy!”

“ I warned you!” she returned his kiss, and then pulling out of his arms, she wriggled down under the covers and turned her back on him. “Now, stop talking to me – I need to get some sleep before Henry decides to wake. He’s slept far too long today for my liking and I just know he’s going to start screaming the house down around three a.m.”

Edgar chuckled and reached across her to turn off her bedside light. Then switching off his own, he snuggled down next to her, draping his arm around her, and they both fell silent as they drifted off to sleep.

The next day, the rain that had been teeming down for the past few days finally ceased, and the morning dawned bright and sunny. Mindful that the children had been cooped up inside for long enough, Evadne ordered them outside to play as soon as breakfast was over.

“…and take Scrabble with you too,” she shouted at Marcia’s retreating back, as she, Thea and James ran out of the room. “He’s had next to no exercise these past few days and he’s going haywire.” She sat back and took a sip of her coffee. “Hopefully a few hours outside’ll calm them down a bit,” she added with a frown. “I know I was always at my worst when I was stuck inside for days on end.”

“And how terrifying that worst must have been!” Edgar put in with a wink.

Charles chuckled as his stepsister pulled a face at her husband and threw her napkin across the table at him. “Were you really that bad?”

“You’d better believe it!” she returned with a grin, as Ned came running into the room.

“Dad, did you make up your mind about Mr. Schulstad yet?” he asked his father eagerly. “I want to write to him.”

Edgar frowned. “Hmmm…I’m not sure.”

“Oh Dad, pleeeeeaaaase!”

The pleading look on his son’s face made Edgar laugh and he relented. “Alright – Evvy and I have talked it over and decided you can go. I’ll write to Mr. Stevenson to let him know, and you can take the letter back with you. But you make sure you behave yourself, or it’ll be the last time we let someone take you on unscheduled exeat. And don’t forget Harry has to get permission from his own parents – I can only give permission for you.”

“I know – I’ll write and tell him now! Thanks, Dad, you’re the best!” and turning on his heel he charged out of the room again at top speed.

Edgar watched him go. “I do wish Mr. Schulstad hadn’t mentioned the flying thing,” he said with a grimace at his wife. “He’ll do no work until it comes round, you know.”

Evadne smiled and shook her head. “Give him some credit, Edgar. I think he learnt his lesson last year, don’t you?”

“I hope so,” he replied, looking far from convinced.

“Who’s Mr. Schulstad?” Sarah asked.

“Someone we met on the plane a couple of years ago on the way to Boston,” Evadne replied, draining her coffee cup and wiping her mouth on her napkin. “He took rather a shine to Ned – he’s rather crazy about airplanes too - and he writes to him regularly. He’s over in England in October and he wants to take Ned and his friend Harry out for a day’s flying. Now,” she added, scraping her chair back and getting to her feet, “I’m going to go get Henry and make the most of this sunshine. Anyone joining me?”

“I will in a while,” her husband replied, “I’ve just got some correspondence to catch up on first.”

“I just need to take a bath,” Sarah added, glaring at her husband. “Someone managed to take an absolute age in the bathroom this morning!”

“Well I’ll join you,” Charles responded, ignoring his wife and getting to his feet. “Shall I save you a sunlounger or chair?”

“Sunlounger I think,” Evvy replied with a grin and left the room to go and get her son.

Fifteen minutes later she made her way out onto the terrace, carrying Henry with one arm and a heap of his blankets and toys with the other.

Charles got to his feet and held out his arms for the little boy. “Here, let me take him,” he said, lifting his nephew from her arms. Sitting down again, he held the baby above his head and pulled faces at him, causing him to smile and gurgle. “He really is adorable, isn’t he?”

Evadne settled herself on the lounger next to her stepbrother and smiled across at her son, who was now holding tight to his uncle’s finger and trying to put it in his mouth. “Well I think so.”

Reaching out her hand, she ran it through the little boy’s fair curls. Charles caught the wistful look on her face as she did so and he looked at her curiously. “Evvy, I realise I’m being nosey, but is something wrong? You don’t quite seem yourself.”

Evadne smiled and shook her head. “Everything’s fine,” she said holding her hands out for her son and avoiding her stepbrother’s eyes.

Charles raised an eyebrow as he handed Henry over and then sat up and gave her a stern look. “Now listen here you,” he began seriously, “I’ve waited a long time for the opportunity to play big brother, so don’t you go depriving me of it now!” She smiled and he caught her eye. “I’m perfectly capable of protecting my little sister,” he added, “blood-related or not.”

Evadne chuckled and sat back, making Henry comfortable in her lap. Then after a brief pause, she poured out everything that had happened over the past couple of weeks. The sympathy grew in Charles’ eyes as she talked, and when she’d finished, she heaved a sigh and gave him a weary smile. “Sorry - nobody for you to take to task, I’m afraid.” She ran a hand across her son’s hair and bent to kiss him on the forehead. “The thing is, I know I’m so lucky to have this little one, and the other three, but I still feel cheated somehow. It’s pretty selfish of me, I guess, but I can’t help it. Edgar’s been so wonderful, but I still feel so empty about it.”

Charles watched her as she gazed lovingly at her son. “What are you going to do? About the operation, I mean?”

“Edgar and I talked it through, and I’m not going to have the hysterectomy – not yet, anyhow,” she replied, looking up at him and shrugging her shoulders. “We’ll see how it goes and reassess in a year, unless something happens in the meantime. I mean, I might…well, you never know, I guess,” she added, smiling thinly at her stepbrother.

Charles nodded and returned her smile. “Very true.” Reaching out, he squeezed her shoulder, then let his hand drop back to his side. “I’m very proud of you, you know - for not giving up I mean. And it’s a good job too,” he added with a grin, “no sister of mine should roll over and take these things lying down!”

Evadne laughed. “I do like having a big brother - I think I’ll keep you!”

“You may think differently when I start beating you up and pulling your hair!” he replied, a twinkle in his eye. “Isn’t that what elder brothers do?”

“You do that and I’ll set my husband on you!” she retorted, still laughing. “He’s bigger than you, remember?”

At that moment, Thea came running out onto the terrace, giggling so much she was holding her sides. “Mummy…Uncle Charles…you have to come and see!” she cried, and then ran off again.

Raising an eyebrow at Charles, Evadne got to her feet and hitched Henry up on her hip. “Now what, I wonder?”

“I’m not even going to hazard a guess!” Charles replied as he stood up and the pair of them followed Thea in through the house.

Meeting Sarah in the hallway, the three of them emerged into the forecourt to be greeted by the sight of the five eldest children gathered under the flat roof above the corner of the dining room that formed a balcony outside Thea’s bedroom window, though the children were banned from going out there without an adult present. Looking up, she saw her husband on top of it, standing somewhat awkwardly in front of the railing that ran around the edge. His face was bright red, and he was shouting at his son.

“I mean it, Ned. Get the ladder back now, or I won’t be responsible for what I do to you!” Ned’s response was to double up with laughter and Edgar was about to shout again when he caught sight of his wife. “Evvy, talk some sense into the stupid boy, will you?”

Rather than do as he asked, Evadne cocked her head on one side and regarded him sceptically. “What are you doing?”

“James accidentally threw a ball up here so I climbed up to get it for them, and my idiot son decided it would be funny to remove the ladder leaving me stuck!” he responded indignantly, his voice sounding oddly high-pitched.

“That’s not really why you’re stuck though!” Ned called up, and as all five children started to giggle again, Thea grabbed her stepmother’s arm to get her attention.

“Daddy’s got his shorts stuck on the railing,” she managed to say through her giggles, and Evadne spluttered and stared up at her husband in disbelief.

“Are you a little trapped there, baby?” she called up, an innocent look on her face, and Edgar glared back down at her.

“I’m glad you all think this is so funny! I’m actually in pain while you’re all there laughing like village idiots!”

“I’m not sure we’re the village idiots,” Evvy replied with a grin, and then without waiting to hear his response, she handed Henry to Thea and headed in through the front door again.

“Evvy!” Edgar bellowed after her, but she failed to reappear. “Evadne, get back here and help me now! Evadne!”

“Did you holler?”

Hearing her voice behind him, he twisted around sharply, suppressing a yell of pain as the railing dug into his backside. “How did you get here?” he asked as she walked across to stand next to him.

“Through Thea’s window – how do you think?” Edgar gaped at her, peering round her at the open window and if it was possible, went even more red. She smiled at him sweetly. “I guess you didn’t think of that then? Might have been a little easier than climbing over the railing, ladder or no ladder.”

Edgar opened and closed his mouth a few times, as the watchers down below doubled up with laughter again. Then regaining his power of speech, he disregarded her comments and muttered, so only she could hear him, “Just help me off here before I damage myself permanently. You, at least, should care about that!”

Evadne grinned “Okay, hold still.” She tried a few times to pull the trapped material from the railing, to no avail – it was stuck fast. “Wait here a second,’ and she disappeared back through the window again. Remerging a minute later, Thea’s scissors in hand, she bent down ready to cut him free.

“You’ll damage my shorts!” he exclaimed, and she looked up at him, eyebrows raised.

“Well it’s this or leave you stuck here all day – which would you rather?”

Edgar glared at her for a moment and then shook his head. “Fine, just watch where you cut.”

After much cutting, and much wincing on Edgar’s part, she finally freed him and he climbed back over the railing, the redness finally disappearing from his cheeks. “Thank you,” he said to his wife, his voice back to normal again, then leaning over the railing he glared at his son. “You thank your lucky stars for your stepmother, young man!”

“Oh leave him alone,” Evvy put in grabbing her husband’s arm and towing him towards the window. “It’s as much your fault as it is his – if you’d used your brain, this wouldn’t have happened. Anyhow, you’re still intact – just!” she added with a grin. Edgar stared at her, an indignant look on his face, and she slipped her arms round his waist. “Oh come on, smile! You’ve cheered me up, anyhow, so something good came out of this!”

Edgar looked down at her and pouted. “It hurt.”

Trying hard not to laugh again, Evadne reached up and pecked him on the cheek. “I know, baby. How about you go and put some different shorts on and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea to make it better!” she said in a motherly voice.

“Are you enjoying patronising me?”

“What do you think?” she replied with a grin. Edgar rolled his eyes, and she patted him on the backside and pushed him towards the open window. “Go on, go get changed, and I’ll make the tea. If you’re lucky I’ll even throw in some of Guilia’s cookies,” and still chuckling, she followed him back inside.

Last edited by Josie on Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:15 pm; edited 2 times in total

#53: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:06 pm

You are the second drabble writers on this board who is determined to improve my Monday morning attitude - thank you, Josie, for making me giggle out loud at this picture of Edgar!

On a more serious note thank you for showing an Evvy who is gradually coming to terms with the fibroids problem. Am glad to see her prepared to play a waiting game, at least for now even though this may be uncomfortable for her - I'm not a doctor, but to the best of my knowledge having fibroids does not necessarily prevent a pregnancy, and it's not unknown for the fibroids to shrink, either. Also, even at the period when this story is set, it was possible to remove the fibroids themselves without a hysterectomy - wasn't the more major op. recommended more because of Evvy's age? Hope things will go well there, anyway.

#54: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:10 pm

Loved the scene with Edgar stuck by his shorts!! Laughing

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

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:59 pm

Wonderful - thank you Josie! Evvy and Edgar are great.

#56: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:15 pm

Lovely, Josie!

Mexican Wave

#57: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:26 pm

great!

although am wibbling slightly about the flying thing, not sure why though...

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

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:42 pm

Thanks Jo

So pleased Evvy and Edgar are working through this together - and I'm glad Charles and Sarah and co could visit.

Charles is making a lovely big brother.

I have a feeling Edgar might not be allowed to forget his little adventure in a hurry!

Liz

#59: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:03 pm

Sitting here chuckling again...thanks, Jo, that was brilliant, you always manage to mix the good with the bad so well!

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

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:32 pm

Robin wrote:

great!

although am wibbling slightly about the flying thing, not sure why though...

Wot she said! Very Happy

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

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:14 pm

*Am wondering just how much of Edgar's bare bum was on show after Evvy had finished!*

Thanks Josie. Laughing

#62: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:21 pm

The two girls kissed their stepmother goodbye and waved as she drove off, then made their way down the path towards the school gates. As they neared them, Marcia glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye and her face took on a sad expression.

“Are you excited about being a Middle?”

Thea grinned. “Yes – it feels really grown up though. But then I am eleven in two months, so I am grown up really.”

“Well I don’t think I like it now you’re a Middle,” Marcia replied, staring down at the pavement and pouting. “I won’t get to see you nearly so much.”

“Yes you will. You see me all the time at home,” Thea replied, giving her a puzzled look, “and we never saw each other in class anyway.”

“I know, but it’s not the same,” Marcia continued, still pulling a sulky face. “You’re in a different playground and everything. What if I need to talk to you at break? It’s not fair.”

Thea watched her for a second, then put an arm around her younger sister’s shoulders. “Don’t be such a ninny! You’ll be fine without me – you’ve still got Ann and the others. And I’ll only be in the Middle’s playground if you want to talk, or we can talk after school.” She looked up at her – Marcia had shot up over the summer and was now an inch or so taller than Thea – and gave her a sisterly smile. “Anyway, it’s only for a year, then you’ll be a Middle too!”

Marcia returned her smile, looking a little consoled. “Daddy said he can’t believe you’re a Middle now ‘cause you still seem too young, but I think it’s ‘cause he wants to pretend he’s not old! Ooo – there’s Ann! Ann!” and forgetting her woes, she ran off towards her friend.

Thea laughed and turned in the opposite direction towards her new playground. Today was her first day in the Middle School, and truth be told, she was feeling very excited and very grown up. She had a tight-knit little group of friends now, and Kate was due to start at the school today too. Walking into the Middle’s playground, she instantly spotted Kate waving to her from the far gate and ran across to meet her.

Kate greeted her with a wide smile, almost jumping up and down in her excitement. “I can’t believe I’m here! This is so much better than the other smelly old school. And there’s no Franny here too!”

Thea laughed as Kate said goodbye to her mother, that lady feeling better about leaving her daughter, now she was in her friend’s charge. Then taking Kate by the arm, she said, “Come and see Celine and Lucy. You remember them from my birthday, don’t you?” Kate nodded, and Thea towed her across the playground to her friends.

The bell rang ten minutes later, and as they all filed into their new classroom, all nineteen children chattering at the tops of their voices, Thea pulled Kate towards two seats near the window. “Come and sit next to me – we sit two people together.” She ran forward just in time to claim the last two window desks, and as Kate took her seat, Thea threw herself on two more desks across the aisle and waved at her other friends.

“Lucy, quick – I’ve saved you two desks!”

Lucy and Celine came to claim their new seats, and Thea returned to her own. “Our teacher’s called Miss Engel. Ann’s brother had her before he went to England and says she’s really nice.” Then turning to face her friend, she gave her a beaming grin. “I’m so glad you’re here – it’s going to be so good!”

At that moment, the classroom door opened, and the aforementioned Miss Engel came into the room. The class jumped to their feet. “Good Morning everyone! I’m Miss Engel, and I’m your teacher this year.”

“Good Morning Miss Engel,” nineteen voices chorused back.

The teacher looked around at them all and smiled. “Sit down, all of you. Now,” she said, taking her seat behind her desk and pulling a thin, hard-backed book out of her bag. "Let’s take the register, shall we?” She opened the book and picked up a pen. “Timothy Adams?”

“Here!” a small, American voice answered.

“Charlotte Beasley?”

“Here!”

“Kate Cranston…?”

She continued to take the register, the pupils answering to their names with the required ‘Here’. Thea was paying little attention, knowing her name would be the last on the list, and she was staring around her, taking in her new domain with enthusiastic eyes.

Miss Engel had just reached the letter ‘G’, when the door opened and Mademoiselle Pattieu, the school secretary came into the room.

“One more for your class, I believe, Miss Engel,” she said with a smile, pulling her small charge forward. “This is Francesca Harford.”

Kate, who had been gazing out of the window, sat up sharply, almost overturning her desk, and looked at her friend in horror. Thea was staring at the new girl, her mouth wide-open and her face as white as a sheet.

==

“Marcia Watson?”

“Here!”

“Berndt Weissmann?”

“Here!”

Mr. Jones shut his register and looked around his new class. “Excellent - all present and correct! Right, let’s get down to business, shall we? Appointments first, I think. As you all know, now that you’re the top junior class, the Class Captain this year will also be head of the Junior School.” A hum of whispers went around the class, and he held his hand up for silence. “Class Second will be Suzette Schumann. Well done, Suzette” A smatter of claps sounded at this and Suzette, a small, dark, Swiss girl, beamed at the news. Mr. Jones held his hand up for silence again. “And I'm very pleased to announce that Class Captain will be Ann Bown!”

A loud squeal sounded from the back of the room at this announcement, and as the rest of the class applauded, Marcia threw her arms around her friend’s neck. “I knew it!”

Mr. Jones laughed. “Well somebody’s pleased, anyway. Calm down, Marcia, there’s plenty of time for that at break.” Ann was staring at him in shock, and he gave her a warm smile. “Congratulations, Ann, I’m sure you’ll do very well. Now for the rest of the appointments. Stationary Monitor – Carl Haasen, Flowers – Linda…”

As he continued, Marcia turned to her friend and hissed, “I knew it would be you! Everyone likes you, even the teachers!”

Ann stared at her. “I thought it would be you.”

Marcia shook her head. “I get in too much trouble." She paused and gave Ann a wide grin. “It’ll be so good! It’s almost like being head girl!”

Her voice squeaked in her excitement and Mr. Jones stopped talking and glared at her. “Talking, Marcia? Care to share it with the class?”

Marcia went bright red and mumbled something incoherent and Mr. Jones did his best to suppress a grin.

“Let’s see if you can manage to get the first day of term out of the way without getting in trouble shall we? Start the year off with a new record – you never know, it might be fun,” and as Marcia went even redder and Ann tried hard not to giggle, Mr. Jones turned back to the rest of the class.

==

“I don’t believe it! That’s so unfair!”

Ned looked up at his friend, who was busy studying the new study lists, and raised his eyebrows. “What’s so unfair?”

“This!” Harry pointed to the board in front of him. “Stevenson’s split us up!”

“What?” Ned hurried across to join his friend. “He can’t do that!”

“Well he has – see for yourself! You’re in with Burgess…”

“That’s okay – Burgess is cool!”

“Well it’s alright for you, then, isn’t it!” Harry retorted, with not-a-little sarcasm, as his friend pushed next to him to have a look. “Look who I’m with!”

“Piers Lloyd-Kitchen? Who’s he when he’s at home?”

“How’m I ‘sposed to know! Some ass of a new boy, probably, if his ghastly name’s anything to go by!”

“He might not be. Why don’t you give him a chance?” Harry glared at him, and Ned grinned. “Anyway, our studies are next door to each other, so it’s not so bad.”

“Alright for you to say!”

“Oh stop sulking, you big girl!” Ned retorted.

“Oh go get lost!” and as Ned laughed at the outraged expression on his friend’s face, Harry pushed past him and stormed up the stairs towards his new room.

Last edited by Josie on Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:20 pm; edited 5 times in total

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

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:30 pm

Oh no, poor Thea - hope her friends mean that Fran can't start her game again. Crying or Very sad

Thanks Josie.

#64: Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:53 pm

Well, Piers has an unfortunate name, but I am sure that he is really very nice.

I am also sure that Franny has changed all her evil ways.

Further, I am sure that Marcia can stay out of trouble.

What's that you say, you don't see the pigs flying past my window?

#65: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:56 pm

Poor Thea! I hope the school is a bit more on the ball this time!

I do love irrepresible Marcia - nice try for sympathy from Thea

Wink

I'm already feeling sorry for Piers Lloyd-Kitchen - with a name like that he's bound to be defensive or a right prat (apologies to any Piers Lloyd-Kitchen who happens to be reading this Exclamation

)

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

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:14 pm

Oh gosh poor Thea, what an awful shock. Thanks Jo

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

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:18 pm

What on earth made you come up with Piers Lloyd-Kitchen, Jo??!

Hopefully Franny will be unable to make Thea's life a misery without her little gang - and now Thea has friends to support her. Or will it slightly swing the other way?

Thanks, Jo.

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

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:39 pm

Thanks Jo

Poor Thea - what a shock!

Well done Ann!

Josie wrote:

“Oh stop sulking, you big girl!” Ned retorted.

And just what's wrong with being a girl Ned? Evil or Very Mad

Liz

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

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:40 pm

Thanks for this Josie - although I do actually know a Piers... he's my old choirmaster's youngest boy - currently at Ripon Cathedral Choir School, the surnames not as bad though Very Happy

JackieJ

#70: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:18 pm

*giggles*
Ned's so sensitive and kind to his friend, though he's right it won't be a big change if they're next to each other and maybe Piers will be super cool to make up for the name.

*crosses fingers that Franny has reformed*

Thanks Josie

#71: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:44 am

What a brilliant name!!!
And what a shock for poor Thea.

#72: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:26 pm

I also love the name! Wouldn't anybody stuck with that just want to sink into the ground every time introductions were made, or pretend to be called something completely different?

Let's hope the person is better than the name suggests!

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

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:37 pm

awww luffly posts - thank you Josie

((Thea))

I hope Francesca is nicer now (refusing to bestow my own beloved short on her!) - but *wibbling a bit*

#74: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:40 pm

Thank you Jo Glad to be able to read more about the Watson's.

Poor Thea and Katie hope Fran does behave herself but have a nasty feeling she won't. Hope this school reacts better and faster this time if anything does go wrong.

Can so see Ned behaving like that.

Hope Evvy gets her dream she deserves something extra nice to happen.

#75: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:06 am

Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Should hopefully be back on track from now on.

Miss Engel nodded at the secretary as that lady withdrew from the class, and then turned to her new pupil. “Welcome to the class, Francesca,” she said with a smile. “Now, let’s find you somewhere to sit, shall we?”

“Please, Miss,” Franny replied in a sweet, girlish voice that made Miss Engel raise her eyebrows slightly, “I already know Kate Cranston – could I sit with her?”

Miss Engel’s sharp eyes caught the expression on both Kate and Thea’s faces, and she shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Kate’s new herself, so we’ll leave her where she is. Now let’s see; Lucy is it?” The owner of the name nodded. “Can you move to this spare desk up at the front here, please, and Francesca, you can take Lucy’s place next to…Celine?” Celine smiled and acknowledged her name. “Celine, you can show her the ropes for the first week or so. Now, let’s get started, shall we? Marc Leconte? Will you go along to the stationary cupboard, please – take, let’s see, Timothy Adams with you – and here’s the list…”

As Miss Engel continued giving her orders, Franny walked down the classroom to take her seat, flashing Thea a nasty smile and staring at her intently. Thea dropped her eyes to stare down at her desk, her earlier happiness evaporating completely. Truth be told, she was trying very hard not to cry. Oblivious to her friend’s discomfort, Celine smiled at the new girl as that young lady took the empty seat beside her.

“Hello, I’m Celine, and those are my friends Thea, Kate and that is Lucy,” the Swiss girl hissed in her almost flawless English, pointing down the class at her friend who had been moved.

“I’m Franny,” Franny replied, with a sickly sweet grin. “I already know Thea and Kate, we were at our last school together – before Thea had to leave, of course,” she added spitefully, with a sideways glance.

Hearing every word of this exchange from her seat across the aisle, Thea continued to stare down at her desk, trying her best to ignore it. Kate glared at the newcomer, who simply smiled at back her. Thoroughly confused – Thea had never mentioned having to leave her old school – Celine was about to ask Franny what she was talking about when Miss Engel called for silence, so her questions had to wait.

They were kept fully occupied for the next hour and half, as Miss Engel got to know them and went through various bits and pieces, so it wasn’t until break that Thea found herself face to face with her old nemesis. She hurried out of the classroom as soon as the bell went, not waiting for Kate and making straight for her locker, eager to avoid Franny if she possibly could. She had just finished unpacking her bag and was about to close it and head outside when she heard the familiar, malicious voice.

“Bet you didn’t expect to see me here?” Thea closed her locker, keeping her back to Franny, and went to walk away. Franny wasn’t finished, however, and grabbed hold of Thea’s arm. “When Daddy said I could change schools, I told him I just had to come here, ‘specially as I knew you and Kate were here.” Her eyes narrowed and her stare bored into the side of Thea’s face. “You got me in trouble and made me lose my friends, Thea Watson, and now I can pay you back.”

Hearing her friends’ voices as they walked down the corridor towards them, Thea wrenched her arm out of Franny’s grasp and made her way quickly towards the playground. Kate saw her go, and ignoring the school rule of no running in the corridor, she sprinted after her friend, catching up with her just as she stepped outside.

“Thea, wait!” Kate tried to catch Thea’s arm, but that young lady pulled it away.

“Leave me alone.”

“Thea, you have to ignore her! I’ll tell Celine and Lucy how mean and nasty she is, and then they’ll tell everyone else and it’ll be okay, you’ll see.”

Thea shook her head. “No it won’t,” she replied in a quiet voice, and then turning she started to walk away. Kate started to follow. “I want to be on my own.” Thea began to walk faster, and seeing she meant what she said, Kate stopped and watched her go.

“Thea! Thea, over here! You’ll never guess?”

Ignoring the attempts to get her attention, Thea continued on her path to the opposite side of the playground, her head bowed. Disgruntled, Marcia pulled a face as she watched her go.

“What’s wrong with her?” Ann shrugged her shoulders and looking around her, Marcia suddenly spotted Kate. “Kate! Over here, quick!”

Kate looked up as Marcia shouted, and made her way across to the gate between the two playgrounds. “What?”

“Ann’s been made Head of Juniors! I knew she would be!” Marcia announced proudly, and then before Kate had a chance to reply or congratulate Ann, she added, “What’s wrong with Thea?”

Glancing back towards the door that led into the Middle School, Kate caught sight of Franny coming out into the playground with Lucy and Celine. “That,” she replied, pointing towards them.

Marcia looked in the direction of Kate’s hand and her eyes widened. “What’s that pig Franny doing here? Did you know?”

Kate shook her head. “She never said she was coming here,” she responded, looked around her to see where Thea had got to. “I didn’t know 'til she came to class this morning.”

Marcia glanced across to where her sister was sitting alone on a bank of grass on the far side of the yard, and then stared back at Franny. At that exact moment, Franny glanced up, and seeing Marcia looking at her, she waved, a nasty sneer on her face. Marcia’s temper began to rise.

“I’m telling her she can’t be here!” she stated, jumping down from the gate. “C’mon Ann.”

Ann stared at her as if she had gone mad. “You can’t stop her being here!”

“Well I’ll tell her she’s to leave my sister alone then!” and she stepped back and pulled open the gate.

Ann caught the back of her cardigan and held her back. “No you can’t ‘cause you’re not allowed in the Middles’ playground,” she said, sounding very officious. “You’ll get in trouble and you know what Mr. Jones said.”

“So? It’s Thea – I have to!” Marcia retorted, trying to pull her cardigan free. “Let go!”

Seeing the makings of a full-scale argument, Kate decided to interrupt. “Don’t, Marcia. It’ll cause a fuss and Thea’ll hate it.” Marcia opened her mouth to argue back but Kate was too quick for her. “I’ll tell Lucy and Celine how horrid she is, I promise, and then she won’t be able to be nasty to Thea.”

Marcia succeeded in freeing her clothing from Ann’s grasp and glared at her two friends. “Well I’ll wish for her to disappear or get hit by lightening or eaten by a giant spider then – I can do that!” she said absurdly, and stalked off, not in the least consoled by Kate’s promises.

Ann rolled her eyes and turned to follow in her wake, and Kate set off to go and see if she could get Lucy and Celine alone.

When the bell went for end of lessons, Marcia tore out of the classroom, threw her belongings haphazardly into her locker and then ran outside and across the playground to where Evadne was waiting.

“Mummy, guess what…” she cried, coming to a halt in front of her stepmother and gasping for breath. “Thea’s…Franny…” She began choking from dashing around too fast, and Evadne bent down, a little concerned.

“Calm down, Marcia, take a deep breath.” Marcia did as she was told, and soon began to breath properly again. Once she was satisfied the young girl was back to normal, Evadne stood up. “Now, what’s this about Franny?”

“She’s here!” Marcia stared up at her stepmother, her big, green eyes open to their widest extent and an upset look on her face. “Ann was made Head of Juniors and I went to tell Thea at break, only she wouldn’t talk to me, and then I told Kate and asked her why and she showed me Franny was there! I wanted to tell her to go away but Ann and Kate wouldn’t let me. Mummy, Thea’s really sad about it and went off on her own and everything. It’s not fair.”

Evadne stared at her in shock. “What do you mean she’s here? At the school?”

Marcia nodded, and before Evadne could say any more, Thea herself appeared at the school gates, a sullen look on her pretty face. As she approached them, Evvy reached out to her and pulled her into a hug.

“Let’s get you home, shall we?”

Thea glanced at her sister, realising that young lady must have given her stepmother the news. Then nodding her head, she slipped her arms around Evadne’s waist. Evvy kissed the top of the smooth, brown locks and led her towards the car.

Later that evening, Thea was getting ready for bed when there was a knock at her bedroom door and it opened to reveal Marcia’s worried face. She had rushed to get changed so that she could speak to her sister, and her nightdress was on inside out, her fair curls wild and bushy, as if she had been given an electric shock. Thea smiled as she came across to perch on the edge of the bed.

“Thea, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Thea turned her back on her sister, finished brushing her hair and bent down to close her bottom draw.

Marcia watched her for a moment, and then shook her head vigorously, causing her hair to bounce around wildly. “No you’re not, I know you’re not. It’s not fair that she’s at our school – I hate her!”

Thea said nothing, but made her way towards the bed and climbed between the covers. Marcia stared at her.

“Why won’t you say anything?”

There was silence for a moment, while Thea thought about this, and then she shook her head. “You’d better go to bed, Marcia, Mummy’ll be up soon for light’s out and you’ll be in trouble.”

“I don’t care, I’m not going to bed yet.” Moving up the bed towards her sister, Marcia reached out and grabbed her arm. “Franny’s a horrid pig and I’m not going to let her be nasty to you! I’ll tell Mr. Jones what she did and he’ll tell all the teachers and then they’ll make her Daddy take her away! It’ll serve her right too.”

“Oh no you won’t.” They looked up at the sound of their stepmother’s voice, and Evadne gave Marcia a stern look. “What are you doing in here, young lady? I thought you were supposed to be getting ready for bed.”

Marcia turned innocent eyes on her stepmother. “I was, but I wanted to see if Thea was alright.”

“Well now you’ve seen, so how about you go back to your own room and get into bed. I’ll be along to turn the light off in a minute.”

Marcia jumped down and ran off to do as she was told, and Evadne sat down on the edge of the bed and took Thea’s small, slim hand in her own. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

“I’m okay.” Thea stared down at her lap for a moment and then lifted her eyes to her stepmother’s face. “Are you going to tell Daddy?”

Evadne nodded. “Yes, Thea, he needs to know.”

“But he’ll tell Miss Engel, and then everyone’ll know and I don’t want them too,” came the pleading reply, and Evvy raised her hand to Thea’s shoulder.

“No they won’t, I promise you. We’ll have to tell Miss Engel, and she may have to tell the Headmaster, but nobody else will find out, okay? I’ll have a word with Marcia in a minute and tell her to keep quiet too.”

Thea nodded, and her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “It’s not fair, Mummy. Why did she have to come to my school?”

“I don’t know, sweetie, I really don’t know.” Evadne reached out and hugged her, stroking her hair as she sobbed. After a couple of minutes, Thea pulled back and scrubbed her eyes, and Evvy looked at her, concerned. “Are you okay to go to sleep?”

Thea nodded. “I’ll be alright. I’m tired.”

“Okay, well you get some sleep then, and maybe it won’t seem so bad tomorrow.” Thea wriggled down beneath the covers and Evadne bent down to kiss her goodnight. “We’ll make this okay, Thea.”

Thea smiled thinly and kissed her stepmother on the cheek, then turning onto her side, she closed her eyes. Evadne watched her for a few seconds, and then getting to her feet, she left the room.

It was gone eleven, and she had just got to bed herself when Edgar finally came home. He was chairing a big project, and had consequently been working very late for the past few days. Making his way upstairs, he went to kiss his sleeping daughters and young son goodnight before making his way to bed. As he entered the bedroom, Evadne put her book down on her nightstand and smiled.

“I was wondering how late you were going to be! Did you get much done?”

Walking across to the bed, Edgar bent down to kiss her and then made his way to the wardrobe and began to get changed. “Quite a bit, actually. One more late night should do it, I think, then I’ll be back to more normal hours. I am sorry about this, darling, I really can’t help it.”

Evvy watched him as took off his suit and tie. “I know, it’s okay. Listen, Edgar, I’ve something to tell you?”

“Sounds serious,” he replied, frowning as he put his suit on its hanger and hung it on the rail. “What’s up?”

“It’s Thea. Franny Harford turned up at their school today – she’s a new pupil this year.”

“She’s what?” came the muffled response, as Edgar got his shirt stuck while pulling it off over his head. He wrestled with it for a few seconds, cursing as he did so, and finally managing to extract himself from it, he threw it over a nearby chair. “Damn thing!”

“Well if you’d undo the buttons and take it off like a normal human being, then that wouldn’t happen!”

Edgar dismissed her insult with a wave of his hand, and began to pull on his pyjamas. “Are you serious about Franny Harford?”

Evadne nodded. “Thea’s trying to be brave, but she’s really upset, Edgar. From what Marcia told me earlier, I think Franny may have already started picking on her again. I’m not sure what to do. We’ll have to tell her teacher about last time, of course. I was thinking I should do that tomorrow, first thing?”

“Absolutely! Try and nip it in the bud now,” he replied, tying his pyjama bottoms at the waist and then climbing into bed. “That damn child – why can’t she just leave Thea alone?”

Resting his head back against the headboard, he looked upset and Evadne moved across to cuddle up against him, her head on his shoulder. “I promised her we’d make it okay. We will be able to, won’t we?”

Edgar looked down at her, his hand stroking her hair. “We will if I have anything to do with it,” he said quietly, his mouth drawn into a straight line. Then turning off the light, he slid down between the sheets and took his wife in his arms, holding her closely as he stared up into the darkness, making a silent pledge to help his daughter in any way he could.

Last edited by Josie on Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:18 am; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:16 am

Thanks Jo

*hopes Franny can be stopped from tormenting Thea*

Liz

#77: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:28 am

Thanks Josie!
WhAt lovely supportive parents they are.

#78: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:39 am

Thanks, Josie - hope that Franny's spiteful little schemes can be nipped in the bud before Thea has to suffer any more from her.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:02 am

Poor little Thea, obviously Franny has learnt nothing. swear

Hope Edgar and Evvy can sort things out soon.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:38 am

Horrible horrible bullying pig.

(((((((Thea))))))))

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:07 am

(((Thea)))
I'm sure Evvy and Edgar will sort this out but poor Thea. Hope they don't have to resort to Marcia's tactics though they do sound more fun Wink

Thanks Jo

#82: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:27 am

Poor Thea! I hope someone settles Franny's hash quickly. Or multiple someones.

#83: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:40 am

Poor Thea! I did have a vague hope the horrid child had learned her lesson. I do have a feeling this school won't stand for it though. Miss Engel was quick enough to see Thea and Kate didn't want her with them and she must know they would have a reason.

I do love Marcia the champion protector!

thanks Josie.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:37 am

Poor Thea. Hope that Evvy and Miss Engel can do something about it and stop that horrid child before she upsets Thea any more.

Thank you Jo.

#85: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:57 am

what an unpleasant child.
At least their teacher this time seems a lot more on the ball.

thanks Jo

#86: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:10 am

How did I miss the last but one update? Still even more to read this morning!

Thanks Josie

*joins in poking Franny and hugging Thea*

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:18 pm

Hope they can sort it out with the staff asap

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

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:47 pm

Poor Thea!
At least she has a good teacher this time, but I can't help wondering if this will be the reason Evvy asks Miss A about places for the girls at the CS during Jo's house party in Reunion?

#89: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 2:51 pm

Thanks Jo!

Have read all that you sent me - then came here expecting to find more and there isn't any Crying or Very sad

Any chance of another post? Very Happy

#90: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:15 pm

Evadne got to her feet and held out her hand. “I appreciate you giving me some of your time, Miss Engel. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to know that her teacher's sympathetic to it all this time around.”

Getting to her feet and shaking Evadne’s proffered hand, Regina Engel smiled. “You’re welcome, Lady Watson. If there’s one thing I won’t tolerate in my classroom, it’s that sort of spiteful behaviour.” She paused for a moment and looked at the slim, chic woman in front of her. She couldn't imagine this lady being indiscrete or betraying a confidence, and taking a deep breath, she decided to say what she had been wanting to ever since the interview had begun. “I was unlucky enough to be in Thea’s position when I was her age, and the staff of the school I was at did nothing – they didn’t believe I was telling the truth. One of the reasons I teach at this school is because the powers that be don’t allow anyone to get away with this sort of nastiness, and so far we’ve been remarkably free of it. I intend to keep it that way.”

Evadne returned her smile, feeling overwhelming relief. “Thank you,” she replied, her voice a little shaky, "sincerely, from both my husband and myself. I dread to think what it might do to Thea if she had to go through all that again." Then, as the bell went for the start of morning lessons, she said her goodbyes, and turned and left the classroom.

Making her way back outside, she passed through the gate to the Junior playground, where she had left Thea playing with Marcia and Ann. The two younger girls had already made their way inside to their own classroom, and Thea was now sitting on the grass verge looking a little anxious. Evadne made her way across to her.

“Get a shove on, young lady, lessons’ll be starting soon,” she said briskly, smiling and holding out a hand. Thea allowed herself to be pulled to her feet, but she still looked a little unsure of herself, and Evvy bent and kissed her on the cheek. “It’ll be okay, sweetie. Go on, you run off and get to your classroom before I get in a row with Miss Engel for making you late! I’m too old to get in trouble nowadays!”

Thea smiled nervously, and after a slight hesitation, she ran through the gate towards the Middle School building. Evadne watched her go, then heaving a sigh, she turned and made her way back to her car.

The first half of morning lessons passed without incident, and by the time first break came around, Thea was beginning to feel a little more relaxed. Despite sitting across the aisle from her, Franny had paid her no attention all morning, and Thea was beginning to think that maybe it really would be alright after all.

As the others filed out of the classroom for their twenty minutes outside, Thea had one or two questions she wanted to ask her teacher about the book they had started reading, and remained behind for an extra few minutes. Miss Engel answered her queries pleasantly, and then sent her outside to join her friends and Thea headed off feeling much better about life. They had just started reading Moonfleet, a book she had read before and enjoyed immensely, and she thought to herself that English lessons this term were going to be fun.

Stepping outside, she looked around for her friends and spotted them on the far side, sitting on the grass, chatting amongst themselves. Making her way towards them, she was halfway across the playground when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to find herself looking at Franny.

Thea stared at her, her deep brown eyes searching the other girl’s face. She had decided that morning that she was going to do her best not to let Franny upset her, so taking a deep breath, she asked, ‘What do you want, Franny? I’m in a hurry.”

Franny looked her up and down. “Is it true your stepmother had a new baby?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Thea replied, a little confused, wondering why Franny had brought this up. “He’s called Henry and he’s really sweet.”

Franny’s smile had a nasty edge to it. “That’s good. I s'pose your stepmother will probably love it more than you, ‘cause you and Marcia aren’t her real children, are you? I heard my Mum say that’s what my aunt did when she had her real baby. She didn’t need her stepchildren anymore.”

Thea couldn't believe her ears. She rarely got really angry, but now she could feel her temper rising as Franny insulted her family. “No she won’t!” she shot back, her voice raised, her eyes flashing. “Mummy’s not like that! How dare you say she is!”

“Of course she is,” Franny sneered, enjoying the reaction she was getting. “Your Dad’ll probably love it more too.”

“Don’t talk about Daddy like that!” Thea shouted. People were turning to stare at them now.

“Your Dad really thinks he’s someone, doesn’t he?” Franny continued. “Mr. Anthony told my Dad everything about how he pushed his way into Mr. Anthony’s office and ordered him about…”

“Daddy doesn’t think that!”

“…You Watsons think you’re all so important, but I’ll show you you’re not! I’ll…”

The next second, Franny felt a push in her chest and found herself falling backwards, landing on the concrete playground with a thump. Thea was standing over her yelling. “Don’t you ever say things like that about my family! I hate you, Franny Harford! I hate you!”

“Thea!”

The sound of her teacher’s voice brought Thea to her senses, and she spun round to face Miss Engel, still shaking and a little scared at what she had done. Franny took advantage of the silence.

“I didn’t do anything. She pushed me, Miss Engel,” she cried, crocodile-tears springing to her eyes. “Everyone saw her do it!”

Miss Engel stared down at her, contempt written all over her face. “Get up please, Francesca,” she said, her voice quiet, “and do stop crying. Are you hurt?”

Franny had been about to launch into more self-pity, but something in Miss Engel’s voice stopped her. She remained quiet and shook her head.

“Okay, then go inside and clean your hands and face, please.” Franny had dirt smeared across her cheeks where she’d rubbed away her tears. “Go on, hurry up,” she added as Franny stared at her. Seeing nothing else for it, Franny did as she was told, and Miss Engel turned to Thea. “Thea, come with me, please. The rest of you return to whatever you were doing. There’s still ten minutes of break to go, and there’s nothing left to see here,” and leaving them to do her bidding, she turned and led Thea back towards the school.

Last edited by Josie on Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:13 am; edited 4 times in total

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

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:19 pm

Evil, nasty Franny - glad that Miss Engel seems on the ball.

Thanks Josie.

#92: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:28 pm

Now I hope Thea won't get into trouble for pushing Franny, but this is possibly the best thing she could've done, standing up to the nasty bully!

*I'm so proud of her!* Very Happy

Thanks Josie

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

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:38 pm

I hope Miss Engel cautions Thea on the use of violence and restraining her temper. It will ensure shes always in the right in future if nothing else. Glad Miss Engels took no nonsense from Frannie though, yay!

#94: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:48 pm

Nasty Franny. That was vicious. Poor Thea. I'm so glad Evvy went to see Miss Engels and that she is so on the ball.

#95: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:10 pm

Thank you shiny Jo!

Evil or Very Mad

*wishing I could have a few minutes alone with Franny, grr*

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

Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:51 pm

Thanks Jo

Quite a natural reaction from Thea, although hopefully she'll learn not to indulge it quite so violently in future!

And even so, I have to admit to a certain amount in pleasure in seeing Franny sprawled inelegantly on her behind!

Liz

#97: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:29 am

I have a feeling that Franny might find her course in life rather more complex than she had anticipated!

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

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:32 am

Looking forward to seeing what happens next - I like Miss Engel

#99: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:52 am

glad Miss Engel has her head screwed on and didn't make a fuss of Franny there. Also don't think she'll be too hard on Thea, phew!

thanks Jo Smile

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

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:46 am

I like Miss Engel too and I'm hoping she'll remind Thea that giving into violence while immensly satisfying isn't the right thing, pleased to see Franny isn't going to get away with anything here.

Thank you Jo.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 1:54 pm

I'm so happy there's more of this. Liking Miss Engel very much. Liking Evvy's stepbrother too. I could always ask my dad about fibroid treatment in the 50s and 60s Josie?

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

Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:13 pm

Am very glad to see more of this Very Happy

I do like Miss Engel. Thanks Jo.

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

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:26 am

yay more Evvy! she's so sensible and loving, and of course she still loves Marcia and Thea just as much! Francesca's a real b*tch to suggest anything else.

#104: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:52 am

I've just caught up with this, thanks, Josie. I hope Miss Engels gives Fran a lecture.

#105: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:22 pm

“Take a seat.” Miss Engel waved her hand towards the chair she had pulled up in front of her desk, and then sat down herself in her own.

Thea timidly seated herself in the chair and stared down at her lap. It was beginning to dawn on her just what she had done. She had never lost her temper like that, even during her fiercest arguments with Marcia, and she had certainly never pushed someone before. Truth be told, she had scared herself a little and was feeling thoroughly ashamed.

Miss Engel watched her for a few moments, considering carefully what she was going to say before she spoke. “Now, how about you tell me what just happened out there?” There was silence as Thea continued to stare at her lap. “Thea, I asked you a question, and I’d like an answer, please. I know Francesca said something to you that upset you. What was it?” Thea mumbled something in return. “What was that? I didn’t quite catch it.”

“She said nasty things about Mummy and Daddy,” Thea repeated reluctantly, still staring at her fingers.

“What nasty things?” Thea shook her head and remained silent. “Thea, if you don’t tell me, then I can’t do anything about it, can I? You’re an intelligent, likeable girl who’s fitted in very well at this school so far, and you’ve certainly shown no signs of a temper. I’m well aware that you would not have reacted like that for nothing.”

Her words were greeted with yet more silence and Miss Engel heaved a sigh. Generally she would punish a student for blatantly refusing to answer her like this – dumb insolence, they called it in the armed forces, she remembered her father telling her so. But from her own childhood experience, she knew that the reason Thea was reluctant to speak was her fear of how much worse Franny might get if she thought that Thea had told tales on her.

Deciding not to push the matter further, she sat back in her chair. “Very well. If you don’t want to tell me, I can’t force you.” She paused for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice took on a more officious tone. “Now, I’m afraid I can’t let what you did go unnoticed, either. However much someone provokes you, you should never react like that, regardless of how hurtful their comments are.” When she still drew no response, she added, “Thea, look at me, please.”

Thea lifted her head to stare at her teacher, her deep, brown eyes unnaturally bright. One look at her face told Miss Engel how sorry the young girl was, and she softened her voice.

“Violence never solves an argument, Thea, it only makes it worse, even if it’s only something like pushing. And apart from anything else, you’ve landed yourself in trouble for nothing, haven’t you? It’s very important you try and keep hold of your temper when someone's deliberately needling you, and you certainly never push them or use any other kind of physical reaction, otherwise it makes you no better than them. Do you understand?” Thea nodded and swallowed hard. “I would like you to write a three-hundred word essay, to be given to me in the morning, on why it’s not right to do what you did.” She paused for a second, and then added, “More importantly, you’re to tell your parents what happened when you get home this evening. I’m going to trust you to do that, so please don’t let me down. I haven’t met your father, but from what I’ve seen of your mother, I don’t think she’s going to be very impressed, is she?”

Biting her lips and blinking hard to keep her tears at bay, Thea shook her head. She could imagine exactly what her parents would have to say on the matter when she told them, and how ashamed her father would be.

Seeing her obvious discomfort, Miss Engel decided to take pity on her. “Right, we’ll leave it at that, shall we? The bell will be ringing for the end of break at any moment, anyway.”

As if to prove her right, the bell rang just as she finished speaking, and Thea got up to walk back to her desk.

“Thea?” She stopped and turned back round to face her teacher again. “Remember, if you ever need to tell me anything – and I mean anything - you can come and find me whenever you like. Sometimes it helps to talk things through.”

Thea stared at her for a moment, and then nodding, she continued on her way to her seat. The next second, the classroom door flew open and the rest of the class filed in, all chattering at the tops of their voices.

Kate came to sit down, and turned to face her friend with an urgent whisper. “What happened? We only saw Miss Engel take you off and Franny looking all dirty. Did you really push her like everyone’s saying? I bet it served her right, if you did!”

Seeing Franny walking towards them down the aisle, Thea shook her head. “I’ll tell you at lunch,” she replied in a subdued voice.

As Franny approached them, she gave Thea a supercilious smile, and then taking her seat, she turned her back on Thea to talk to Celine. To Franny’s surprise, the Swiss girl pointedly turned her head away and began to talk to the boy across the aisle. Franny, who had been expecting sympathy for what had happened, stared at Celine in shock, but before she could say anything else, Miss Engel held up her hand and gave a slight cough, and the class fell silent.

“Get your books out and settle down, please. Herr Fleisicher will be along shortly for German, and I don’t want him to find you squawking like a flock of seagulls!” A small chuckle went round the room at this simile and Miss Engel smiled. “Francesca?”

Franny looked up in surprise as Miss Engel got to her feet.

“I’d like you to change places with Lucy, please. Jean-Luc can look after you for the next two weeks while you find your feet.” Franny opened her mouth to argue, but Miss Engel pre-empted her. “No discussion, thank you, I’ll be back at the end of morning lessons, and we’ll talk about it then.”

Realising that she had no choice but to move, Franny collected her belongings together and got to her feet, glaring at Thea as she made her way to the front of the class and sat down next to Jean-Luc, who looked far from impressed. It hadn’t taken long for the gossip about what had happened at break to go around the playground, and Franny was the last person he wanted to be stuck with looking after, even if it was only for two weeks. Miss Engel waited until both Franny and Lucy were seated in their new places, and then satisfied that all was well for now, she gathered up her papers and left the room.

When the bell rang for lunch, Upper Two began packing up their bags, chattering loudly as Herr Fleisicher tried in vain to get them to listen to the homework he was setting. Giving it up as a bad job, he wrote it up on the board, hoping they would copy it down when they noticed it, and left the room. The pupils began filing out of the classroom to get their lunch, and Franny dawdled at the front, waiting for Thea and Kate to pass her before she made a move. There were one or two things she wanted to say to them. Eventually they decided to leave, and Franny was just about to follow them when Miss Engel came into the classroom, stopping her in her tracks.

“A quick word please, Francesca,” she said, closing the door behind Thea and Kate, and making her way over to her desk.

Franny gaped at her. “But…my lunch…”

“Your lunch can wait,” Miss Engel replied firmly, inwardly astonished at the cheek of this child. “I’d like to have a quick word with you about what happened at break. Take a seat, please.”

Franny did as she was told, beginning to feel a little apprehensive. Surely Miss Engel hadn’t overheard what she’d said? She knew her teacher hadn’t appeared until Thea pushed her. She’d seen her come out of the door herself. Maybe Thea had sneaked? If that was the case, Franny thought, she’d be very sorry she’d opened her mouth.

Miss Engel gave a slight cough, drawing the young girl’s attention back to her. “Now,” she began briskly, her voice sounding very matter-of-fact, “I don’t know what went on this morning, and I don’t want you to tell me,” she added hurriedly as Franny opened her mouth. “But I do want you to know that spiteful, bullying behaviour will not be tolerated in this class or this school.”

“But she pushed me!” Franny exclaimed, sounding aggrieved.

“I’m well aware that Thea pushed you, Francesca, and she has been punished for it appropriately. But you know as well as I do that that was not all there was to it. Jean-Luc will be looking after you now instead of Celine, and I’d advise that you steer well clear of Thea and her friends, unless they invite you to join them. I want you to be aware,” she continued as Franny tried to speak again, “that I will be keeping a very close eye on you from now on, so you will do well to heed my words. Now, you can run along and get your lunch,” and without waiting for Franny to do as she was told, Miss Engel got to her feet and walked back out of the room.

Last edited by Josie on Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:39 pm; edited 4 times in total

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

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:28 pm

Very pleased that Thea has Miss Engel as her teacher - what a contrast from the first time this happened. And love that everyone is on Thea's side.

Thanks Josie. Laughing

#107: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:03 pm

Yay! Well handled, Miss Engels.

Poor Thea! Yes, I know she shouldn't have pushed the little idiot but who wouldn't have. It's fine to talk about self control and so on but that was an attach on her family, not just her.

Yes, I know violence doesn't help and I know she has to learn that, but she's only a little girl. (((Thea)))

#108: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:05 pm

Agreeing with Lesley here. I somehow suspect (hope) that Francesca will perhaps be a little more cautious about her behaviour towards Thea now she knows Miss Engel has an eye on her (well I can be an optimist, can't I?)

Nevertheless, Thea needs to remember what she was told about the difference between sneaking and reporting when she is asked directly about what happened like that.

I hope Evvy and Edgar will be understanding about why she pushed Francesca - I'm sure they will, even if they are disappointed. Am not sure I don't consider a 300 word essay a rather hefty punishment for a 10 or 11 year old, but I do realise that the pushing incident could not go unpunished, whatever the provocation.

And it's very comforting to know that Miss Engel is ready to help her and that all the other children are clearly sympathetic, too.

Thanks, Josie.

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

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:24 pm

Well done Celine and the other classmates for showing they're not going to do anything to encourage Franny

Thanks Jo

Liz

#110: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 9:28 pm

Good for Miss Engel and also for Thea's classmates

and for Josie for fab updates! Very Happy

#111: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:22 am

Wow, what a lot to happen. I do hope that Fransesca will behave herself now. And that Evvy and Edgar will be able to assure Thea of their love for her so that she becomes so confident in that that even if Fransesca does take the same line at some point in the future she is able to hold on to her confidence and not react in the same way. Quite a hard thing for anyone though.

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

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:16 pm

I'm glad Franny is getting no sympathy from anyone, and I'll write Thea's essay for her if she wants, poor kid! (although I do see why Miss Engel had to punish her.)

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

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:11 am

So pleased that Thea has Miss Engel as her teacher! Can see she had to punish Thea but am very glad to see that everyne is backing her up!

Thanks Jo.

#114: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:25 pm

Thea sat in her bedroom, pen in hand, staring out of the window at the empty driveway. She was supposed to be doing her homework, but she couldn’t concentrate, no matter how hard she tried. She was waiting for her father’s car to turn into the drive. He was still at work, but her stepmother had said she was expecting him home by eight-thirty at the latest. They were waiting until he arrived before having their dinner, and the nearer it got to that time, the more nervous she felt.

She had finished her essay, at least, so that was one thing off her mind. Not wanting to face Evadne, knowing that that lady would realise instantly that something was wrong, she had headed straight upstairs the minute Ann’s mother had dropped them off, shouting that she wanted to get on with her homework before dinner. Then she’d made an immediate start on the essay, determined to at least get that part of her punishment out of the way.

The afternoon at school had passed by in relative calm. Franny had thrown her a few vicious looks, but had otherwise kept her distance, and to Thea’s great surprise, her classmates seemed to be on her side. It was such a contrast with what had happened at her old school that she scarcely believed it, and kept waiting for someone to turn around and say something nasty. But of course, nobody did, and by the end of the day, she was beginning to feel that maybe, just maybe, this time everything would be okay. But first, she had to face her parents.

Her stomach flipped slightly as she heard a car approaching along the top road, but it carried on past the house and out of sight. She heaved a sigh and sucked hard on the end of her pen, trying to calm herself down. A sudden knock at the door interrupted her reverie, and she turned around as Marcia came into the room.

“Thea, can you help me with my maths?” Marcia asked, a pleading look in her big, green eyes as she crossed the room and flopped onto the edge of the bed. “I don’t understand!”

Welcoming the distraction, Thea smiled and walked across to the bed, taking her sister’s book from her hands. “You never understand maths,” she said, sitting back down at her desk with a grin. Then opening the book and seeing all the scribbles and doodles over the page, she frowned. “You haven’t even tried – you’ve just been drawing pictures!”

“I have tried!” Marcia retorted indignantly, getting to her feet and walking over to her sister’s desk. “See, I’ve tried there!”

“That’s not trying, that’s writing down the question!”

“Well it’s hard!” Marcia muttered, sticking out her tongue. “Anyway, I’m not clever like you and Ned. Daddy says it’s ‘cause I’m good at art.”

“No he didn’t, he said it’s a good job you’re good at art! Anyway, you’re are clever – you’d understand it if you tried to.”

“No, I wouldn’t, it’s a stupid subject. Pleeeeaaaaaaase will you help me?” Marcia begged, fluttering her eyelashes.

Thea laughed. “Fine, I’ll help you,” and turning back to her desk, she picked up a pen and a spare bit of paper. “Come over here, then, so I can show you what to do.”

Marcia, who’d been rather hoping that Thea would just do the hated maths for her, got reluctantly off the bed and pulled the vanity stool up next to her sister, dragging her feet as she did so. She watched, only half-listening to what she was being told, her mind on something else entirely. After five minutes, she gave up all pretence that she was listening and sat up straight.

“Thea, is it true?”

Thea, who’d been in the middle of explaining the principles of long division, looked up in surprise. “Is what true?”

“That you had a fight with Franny?”

Thea turned bright red and stared intently at Marcia’s book. “How do you know that?”

“Everyone knows,” Marcia replied complacently, chewing the end of her pencil. “Did you really slap her like they’re saying?”

“Course I didn’t!” Thea looked up, horrified. “Are they saying that?”

Marcia nodded. “I didn’t believe it though, I knew you wouldn’t slap her. You’re too nice – I told people so! What really happened?”

Thea shot her sister a grateful smile and then told her the truth of her argument with Franny. When she’d finished, Marcia stared at her for a moment, apparently lost for words.

“She…she really said that about Mummy and Daddy?” she exclaimed at last. Thea nodded, and Marcia began to bristle up with anger. “I’ll show her tomorrow…!”

“No, Marcia, don’t.”

“But it’s not true!”

“I know it isn’t,” Thea shook her head wearily, “but you’ll get in trouble as well and that's just silly.”

Marcia stared at her for a second before replying. “What did Miss Engel say?”

Thea swallowed hard. “I have to write an essay…”

“But that’s okay – you’re good at that!”

“...and I have to tell Mummy and Daddy that I pushed her.”

“Oh!” Marcia gulped. “Daddy’s going to be cross!”

“I know.” Thea stared down at her desk and bit her lips. Just thinking about it made her want to cry.

Pulling her legs up underneath her, Marcia sat up on her knees and leaned forward, putting her arms around her sister’s neck. “Please don’t be sad,” she said, hugging her sister tight. She hated seeing her upset.

At that moment, they heard the sound of tires on gravel, and standing to look down at the forecourt, they saw their father’s car grind to a halt. Thea turned to leave her room, and Marcia grabbed her sister’s arm. “I’m coming with you – I’ll tell them that it serves Franny right!”

Thea shook her head. “S’okay. I need to go on my own,” and giving Marcia a small smile, she made her way out of the room.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

The salon door flew open and Evadne came into the hall, an amused expression on her face. “Where were you expecting us to be?”

Edgar grinned. “Here ready to wait on me hand and foot, of course,” he responded, throwing his briefcase on the floor by the dresser and hanging up his coat. “I was just making sure!” Evadne laughed and he put his arms around her, bending to give her a kiss. “So how was your day?”

“Oh you know,” she replied, reaching up to brush some imaginary dirt from his collar, “chatted to Henry about world politics and the latest catwalk fashions, he gurgled insightfully back and sucked on his rattle. Scrabble ate a couple of Ned’s shoes. The usual!” She grinned as Edgar chuckled. “ I hope you’re hungry ‘cause dinner’s ready. We’ve been waiting for you and we’re all famished – I’d imagine Marcia’s ready to eat her right arm by now!”

“Well in that case I’d better go and get changed, hadn’t I? We can’t be doing with a one-armed daughter – what would the neighbours say!” Evvy laughed again, and he pecked her on the cheek and released her. “Where are the girls?”

“Upstairs doing their homework. Give them a shout to wash up and come down, will you?”

“Will do. I won’t be long.” And he turned to head towards the stairs.

“Daddy?”

Pausing with one foot on the bottom stair, Edgar looked up at Thea with a smile. “Hello sweetheart, how’s my favourite ten year old?” Then catching the look on her face, he added, “How was school?”

Thea swallowed hard and shook her head. “Can I talk to you and Mummy, please?

Edgar shot his wife a quizzical look, but she simply shrugged, as much in the dark as he was. “Of course you can. We’ll do it after dinner, shall we?”

“Can we do it now please?”

Edgar looked back at his wife, who walked across to join him at the bottom of the stairs. “Yes, sweetie, if you like,” she replied, holding out her hand. “Why don’t you come down,” and as Thea made her way down the stairs, Evvy nudged her husband in the direction of the salon.

Thea directed her parents to the nearest sofa and once they were both seated, she perched herself in front of them on the coffee table, staring down at her feet. When she hadn’t said anything after a full minute, Evadne reached forward and put her hand on the young girl’s knee.

“Thea, what’s wrong? Has something happened at school?” Thea nodded, but remained silent, and Evadne tried again. “Is it to do with Franny?”

Thea nodded again. “I…” Her voice choked and she swallowed hard to bring it back under control. “Miss Engel said I have to tell you what I did.”

She relapsed into silence and Edgar stared at her, a frown furrowing his brow. “What did you do?”

“I pushed her.”

Edgar’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You pushed Miss Engel?” he asked, incredulously.

“No, I pushed Franny.”

“What do you mean, you pushed Franny?” Edgar asked, confused. “Why?”

“She said things.”

“What things?”

“Horrid things about you and Mummy, and I got cross and pushed her and she fell over.” Her voice was beginning to break as she spoke, and she brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. “Miss Engel saw me and told me off and said I had to write an essay and tell you what I did. I’m sorry, Daddy, I didn’t mean to do it, I just got so cross ” and unable to keep her tears at bay any longer, she put her head in her hands and began to cry.

Edgar exchanged astonished glances with his wife, and then reaching out, he took hold of his daughter’s arms. “Oh sweetheart, come here.”

Now Thea had started crying, she didn’t seem to be able to stop, and she looked up at him, tears still pouring down her face. Rather than the anger and disappointment that she’d been expecting, there was nothing but worry and love in her father’s eyes, and getting to her feet, she moved across the small gap between them, sitting down in his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, Edgar held her tightly until the storm of tears subsided, and then taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he handed it to her.

Thea pulled her head back and scrubbed her eyes. Then gulping down another sob that was threatening to rise in her throat, she looked into her father’s face. “I…I’m really sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to do it, I really didn’t. I couldn’t help it.”

Edgar ran a hand over her smooth, brown locks. “I’m sure you didn’t mean it, sweetheart, don’t worry. What did Miss Engel say about it?”

Thea took a deep breath. “She said it was wrong to be violent and to push anyone, even if they prov…provoke me, ‘cause then it makes me just like them. Daddy, what does provoke mean?”

“It means saying things or doing things to make you angry or upset.” Edgar glanced at his wife, who was watching them intently, and then lifted Thea’s chin so that she looked him in the eyes. “Do you understand why Miss Engel said that?”

Thea nodded and scrubbed her eyes on her handkerchief again. “I know it was wrong, Daddy, but she’s so horrid and said really nasty things about Mummy, and it made me so angry. I won’t do it again, I promise.”

“I believe you won't, sweetheart. Did Miss Engel say anything else?”

“She said I could talk to her if I needed to, and she asked me what Franny said ‘cause she couldn’t help me if I didn’t tell her, but I didn’t want to say. I think she told Franny off though, ‘cause she moved her in class.”

Edgar looked across at Evadne in relief. At least their daughter appeared to be getting the support she needed at any rate. Evvy gave him a slight smile, and leaned forward to grasp Thea’s leg.

“Thea, what did Franny say to you?” Thea screwed up her eyes and shook her head. “Come on, sweetie, tell us, please. It’s okay, I won’t mind.”

Thea looked imploringly at her father, but he nodded his head in agreement with his wife, so seeing nothing else for it, she took a deep breath. “She…she said…Mummy, it’s horrid.”

Evadne squeezed her knee. “It’s okay, Thea, really.”

“She said that you…that you didn’t love me and Marcia anymore now you had Henry instead.” Tears welled up in Thea’s eyes again as Evadne stared at her in shock. “I’m sorry. Mummy, I didn’t want to say.”

Evadne’s face was white with anger, and Edgar grasped her arm firmly and shot her a warning glance. ‘Thea, you know it’s not true, don’t you?” he said, glancing at his daughter anxiously.

Thea nodded earnestly. “I know, I told her so, but then she said you thought it too and that you really think you’re someone and that we all do too, and that she’d show us that we weren’t.”

“But you know Mummy still loves you very much, and so do I?”

“Yes, Daddy, I know.”

“Okay.” Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek, and then pushed her up off his lap. He could see that his wife was still catatonic with rage and was dying to let rip, and he wasn’t sure that having Thea in the room when she did so was such a good idea. “Have you written your essay?”

Thea nodded. “I did it first when I got home.”

Edgar smiled. “Good girl. Well why don’t you run off and wash your face and hands, and call Marcia for dinner. Mummy or I will read your essay afterwards if you like.”

Thea hesitated for a second. “Daddy, aren’t you cross with me?”

Edgar shook his head. “No, Thea, we’re not cross with you. I think Miss Engel said all that needed to be said, and I believe that you won’t ever do it again. Now go on, run along.”

Unable to believe her luck, Thea turned on her heel and left the room as quickly as she could, before her father could change his mind. The second the door was shut, just as Edgar had been expecting, Evadne exploded.

“How dare she! That little…”

“Evvy, calm down!” Edgar turned to his wife to try and placate her, but she was having none of it.

“No, Edgar, I won’t calm down! That stuck-up, good-for-nothing, spoilt, little louse! How dare she tell my children I don’t love them! I’ll…I’ll…”

“You’ll what?”

“I’ll go see her parents and…”

“Oh no you won’t!

“Don’t you tell me I won’t, you can’t stop me!”

Edgar grabbed hold of her forearms to stop her getting up from the sofa, and held onto her tightly, despite her struggling to free herself. “Evvy, will you please calm down. I know you’re upset, and I don’t blame you, but you going and shouting at the Harfords is not going to help Thea. You’ll just make things ten times worse.”

“But she told her I don’t love them!”

“I know she did, darling, but Thea knows it’s not true. I’m sure Miss Engel’s got things under control, and we shouldn’t interfere unless we’re needed.”

Evadne stared at him in stony silence, and it was a few minutes before she spoke again. “But what if she does think it’s true, Edgar?” Her voice was quieter now, and he could see tears starting to well up in her eyes. “What if she really thinks I don’t love her anymore.”

“You heard her - she doesn’t think that, Evvy,” Edgar put a hand on her shoulder and leaned forward to kiss her head.

Evadne looked at him for a second, anger still bubbling inside her, but she knew that he was right. Her going to talk to the Harfords would do nobody any good. Nodding her head, she got to her feet. “I need to go talk to her. Guilia’s left dinner in the oven to keep warm – can you serve it up?” and leaving him to do as she asked, she left the room and made her way upstairs.

She knocked on Thea’s door, and opened it tentatively, poking her head round and forcing a smile on her face.

“Can I come in?”

Thea was standing at the wash basin, drying her hands and face. On hearing her stepmother’s voice, she looked up in surprise and nodded her head. Evvy made her way across to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, giving her daughter an anxious look.

“Thea, I need to talk to you. I…”

“Mummy, it’s okay. I know it’s not true.”

“Are you sure?“ Evadne reached out to her, and as Thea came to stand in front of her, she took hold of her hand. “You’re not just saying that? Because I love you very much, Thea, all of you. It’s so important you know that.”

“I do know that, so do Ned and Marcia. That’s why I was so cross with Franny. She can’t say things like that about you, it’s not fair!” Thea smiled, feeling much better now she had spoken to her parents, and she walked forward, putting her arms around her stepmother’s neck. “I love you too, Mummy.”

“So do I!”

Evadne and Thea both jumped at the sound of Marcia’s voice, and looked up to see her standing in the doorway. Despite herself, Evvy smiled.

“Have you been eavesdropping, young lady?”

Marcia opened her eyes wide and vigorously shook her head. “No! The door was open and I heard when I was going downstairs.” She bounded over to the bed, jumping up next to her stepmother and throwing her arms around her. “I love you too, Mummy, and Franny’s a big, fat pig with a curly tail for being so nasty about you!”

The other two stared at each other for a second and then both burst out laughing. Evadne opened her arms wide. “Come here, both of you,” and collecting them into her, she hugged them very tightly. “Maybe if we all imagine hard enough, she’ll turn into just what Marcia said, eh?”

The two girls giggled.

“What’s going on here?” They all looked round at the sound of Edgar’s voice. “I don’t know,” he continued, his eyes twinkling. “I slave over setting the dinner out and you don’t even come down to eat it when I call. I’m just not appreciated in this house, am I? Maybe I should just feed dinner to the dog.”

Evadne laughed and shook her head, and Marcia jumped down from the bed again, grabbing Thea’s arm. “Race you!”

The pair of them tore out of the room at top speed, knocking something over on the landing as they went, which landed on the polished floor with an almighty crash. Evadne grimaced. “Do you think that was expensive?”

Edgar chuckled and held his hand out to her as she walked towards him. “Probably a priceless heirloom! You feeling better now?”

Evadne nodded. “I’m still angry.”

“I know.”

“But I won’t go talk to them, I promise.”

“Good good.” Edgar bent to kiss her forehead. “She’ll get her comeuppance, you know. Those sort of kids always do eventually.”

Evadne slipped her arm around his waist as they walked down the landing, towards the bookend and books that the two girls had knocked onto the floor. “Marcia said she was a big, fat pig with a curly tail, and I told them if we wished hard enough, she may turn into one!”

Edgar laughed. “Well, I didn’t quite mean that kind of comeuppance, but you never know, it might work. Leave that, they can clear it all up after dinner,” he said as Evadne bent down to retrieve the bookend. “We may love them, but they can still pick up after themselves!”

Last edited by Josie on Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

#115: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:50 pm

Thanks Josie, that was a lovely update. It must have been difficult to write it. I'm glad that the family are able to stick together like that

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

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:03 pm

Im so glad Edgar and Evvy didnt say anymore and were just supportive. *g* at Evvy's reaction though. Thanks Jo.

#117: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:45 pm

I laughed out loud at Evvy's initial reaction, but I laughed even harder at Marcia's wish for Franny and the others' fervent hopes for wish fulfilment!!!

Glad to see that Edgar's wise head can prevail over Evvy and Marcia's impetuousness. Also glad to see them all content to leave further action, if any is needed, to Miss Engel.

But in between the laughter, I had a lump in my throat over the lovely way both Thea and then Marcia were able to reassure Evvy of their love for her - they certainly aren't going to let any silly business from Franny spoil that.

A lovely update, Josie - thank you

#118: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:26 pm

Thank you, Josie. What Franny doesn't appreciate is that Thea and Marcia have had time to establish themselves at their new school, so their characters are well known to their classmates. She is the incomer, and the others will dislike her little tricks.

#119: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 8:05 pm

Aaaahhh! Lovely, lovely. lovely. It would take more than stupid Franny to upset that family.

It was so realistic, even down to Edgar stopping Evvy picking up the bookend. Thank you Jo.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:34 pm

Thanks Jo

I'm so glad Edgar and Evvy were understanding and not angry with Thea. Can quite understand Evvy being rampageous about Franny though - just as well Edgar could calm her down - they complement each other beautifully!

Liz

#121: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:57 pm

Oh lovely.... thanks Josie Kiss

#122: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:39 am

Lovely to see Thea getting all that support.

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

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:52 am

Thank you Jo!

I'm so glad that everyone is on Thea's side!!!

#124: Author: Terry, Location: DUNDEE

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:54 pm

Franny's a wee cat and does this mean if Thea and Marcia go to the Chalet School Franny will follow. That will be interesting.

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

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:38 pm

Thanks Josie - that was lovely - Edgar and Evvy are such wonderful parents.

#126: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:54 pm

Can I have a temper tantrum please over the fact that I read the last part of the drabble to be posted and only realised I couldn't read the next bit yet?! Laughing

What a great drabble. The whole family are great characters. What is the colour of Ned's hair? My picture of Ned is of someone I know who has blonde hair.

I was also hoping that Franny doesn't follow Thea and Marcie to the CS. Though of course the CS wouldn't stand for bullying.

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:09 am

Thank you Jo. Wonderful as ever.

#128: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:19 pm

“That’s it, I’m moving out to live in the rec. room!”

Burgess looked up in surprise as Harry threw his bag across the study and flopped down on Ned’s bed, a black look on his face.

Ned grinned at his friend. “Why’s that?”

“You know why! If I have to spend another day sharing a room with that pompous dung-headed idiot I’ll…I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Ned asked innocently, as his friend’s face slowly turned purple with rage.

“I’ll smother him in his sleep, that’s what!”

Burgess burst out laughing. “No you won’t, don’t be an ass!”

“That’s all you know!” Harry glared at his friends. They were now two weeks into the term, and he was in no doubt that his initial assessment on seeing the new boy’s name had been entirely right. “It’s alright for you two to laugh, you don’t have to live with him! ‘Oh has your house only got five bedrooms? You poor chap, how the devil do you cope?’ ‘Faaaather drives the new Bentley, don’t you know. We find other cars are just soooo parochial.’ ‘You mean you don’t know the Humpty-Pinkington-Smythes? Well of course Mumsie and Father are soooo well connected blah blah blah blah blah!’ I don’t care if his dratted Mumsie and Father know the Queen and Prince Philip – he’s still the world’s biggest nosebleed!”

Ned and Burgess had both dissolved into fits of laughter at Harry’s impressions of his roommate, and he crossed his arms across his chest, a heavy scowl on his face. “Oh shut up both of you! It’s not funny! Stop howling and tell me what I’m supposed to do about His Highness Lloyd-Saucepan”

Seeing the look on his friend’s face, Ned did his best to pull himself together and sat up, wiping tears of mirth from his face. “Sorry. Its just you’ve got him just right!”

“Well so would you if you had to listen to his boring voice all day long!”

“I don’t see what you can do, though,” Burgess put in, still chuckling. “Can’t you just try and ignore the twerp?”

“I’d like to see you try! It’s not just his stupid boasting, I could ignore that, but he seems to think I’m his butler or something. He keeps trying to order me to do things – he asked me to hang up his clothes last night!”

Ned gaped in amazement. “What did you say?”

“Told him to go and boil his head.”

“The maggot! I don’t believe it!”

Burgess didn’t look so surprised. “I’d believe it. He thinks he’s Lord High-and-Mighty or something – he slammed the door in my face going into the common room the other day. We’re all just dirt as far as he’s concerned.”

“He’s not been like that to me!”

“That’s ‘cause your Dad’s a Sir.”

Ned looked incredulous. “Rubbish!”

“Not it’s not,” Harry replied, shaking his head. “That’s how he works. Your Dad’s a Sir, so he licks your boots, our Dad’s aren’t so he treats us like his servants.”

“But why would he do that? What difference does it make who my Dad is?”

“Every difference to a worm like him. Just ‘cause you're oblivious to who your Dad is, doesn’t mean everyone is!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That he’s a rotten little snob, that’s what,” Burgess responded. “He needs taking down a few pegs if you ask me.”

Before the other two could reply, there was a knock at the door and it opened to reveal Piers himself. Without waiting to be invited, he strode into the room and plonked himself down on Ned’s bed, almost sitting on Harry, whose presence he appeared to miss entirely. He was a good-looking boy, dark haired and blue-eyed, with a high-cheekboned features and an arrogant air about him.

Ned glared at him. “Please, come in, why don’t you? Have a seat on my bed.”

His voice dripped with sarcasm, but Piers seemed utterly oblivious. “Thanks. I’m glad I’ve caught you, Watson. I’m trying out for Torpids tomorrow, as a wing, you know. I cut quite a dash, I can tell you. I gather you know Cameron quite well? I was wondering if you might put a good word in for me? Us being formates and all,” he added, with what he clearly thought was a matey grin.

Ned looked horrified. House rugby trials had been postponed for the last two weeks, due to the new captain, Cameron, being late back to school. With only the school rugby and hockey teams to keep him occupied out of hours, Ned had been bemoaning the lack of sport he’d been able to do, much to his classmates chagrin, and both they and he were eagerly looking forward to trials taking place this weekend – him for obvious reasons, and them purely because it would shut him up. Now, Ned could see his fun about to be spoilt by the presence of Piers, and he was less-than-impressed, to say the least.

“I’d like to see what Cameron would say if I tried!” he retorted indignantly. “You’ll have to turn up and try out, like everyone else.”

“Ah, don’t want to agree in front of these two,” Piers replied with a wink. “I get you.”

“No, I don’t want to agree at all!” Ned replied incredulously, wondering just how stupid this boy could be. “How much of an idiot d’you think I am?”

But Piers wasn’t listening. He’d hauled himself to his feet and was staring down at Harry with disdain. “I’ve been looking for you, Pepperell. When you’ve got a moment, my Sunday shoes could do with a shine, if you don’t mind. I’m sure you can fit them in when you do your own. Handy having these chaps to help us out, isn’t it?” he said, looking at Ned and inclining his head towards Burgess. Then turning on his heel, he walked out of the door, shutting it loudly behind him.

“Not on your life, you pompous ass!” Harry shouted after him. Then turning back to the other two, "See, I told you!"

Burgess shook his head as if he was trying to take it all in. “Is he real?”

Harry nodded his head, sinking further into his dark mood, and Ned got to his feet and walked across to the bed, sitting down next to his friend. “That’s it, we’ve got to do something. He can’t treat you like that, and I’ll just die if he makes the team!”

“Why don’t you just stick your foot out and trip him up a few times,” Burgess replied with a grin.

“Oh I will, don’t worry! Doesn’t help Harry though, does it? We need to come up with a plan to take him down a few thousand pegs, and then some.” At that moment the bell rang for lights out and Harry got to his feet.

“Well you better think of it quickly, before I really do end up smothering him!” He picked up his bag from next to Ned's desk and dragged his feet across to the door. “It’d be worth the row just to be rid of him!”

Last edited by Josie on Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:31 pm; edited 2 times in total

#129: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:27 pm

What a lovely post after having to get over finishing reading everything I'd read so far. Piers sounds really annoying. I would tell him exactly what I thought of him - in Evvy style, but maybe not in her words! - and tell Piers that everyone is equal to everyone else.

#130: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:28 pm

Um, I hope those three don't get into too much trouble over their taking the Blot down a peg or two. I bet you've got something really ingenious up your sleeve, Josie, so please let us know what it is. [/i]

#131: Author: Terry, Location: DUNDEE

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:31 pm

Squash Piers firmly. Poor Harry and Ned because it looks like Piers is going to be a leech.

#132: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 1:45 pm

Hmmmmm - Please may this not do anything to lower Ned in Edgars estimations. Let Ned manage to help out his friend without ending up in trouble of the sort he did earlier on. Get rid of piers - he will never be fit to live with.

Thanks Jo - I really dont blame Harry for wanting to move out in the least.

#133: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:12 pm

Chair wrote:

What is the colour of Ned's hair? My picture of Ned is of someone I know who has blonde hair.

Just realised I didn't answer your question, Chair, sorry. Ned has thick, dark, wavy hair and light brown eyes.

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:34 pm

Wonderful post, thank you jo. Piers really is something else!!! Amazing. Hope they can manage to squash him good and proper without getting into too much trouble!

#135: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:55 pm

Thanks Josie. Fabulous post baour Franny and Thea. Good for Miss Engel am so happy Thea has the support she needs.

Wonderfully funny post with the boys. Ned is so lovely just like his dad.

Looking forward to seeing Franny and Piers THingummy Whatsit getting their comeuppance.

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:42 pm

Definitely want that twat to get his comeuppance - does he treat the Masters like that?

Thankds Jo.

#137: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:53 pm

Piers is, I hope, riding for a fall. I love the way Ned has no idea that his father is anything out of the ordinary.

Poor Harry!

poke

Piers

Quote:

THingummy Whatsit

to hijack Sue's name for him!

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:35 pm

Hmm - edited because I missed a page and my comment was now completely unapplicable! Hope Ned can think up something effective but at the same time unlikely to get him expelled!

Thanks for the updates!

#139: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:37 pm

This is great - thanks Josie. I love the posts about Ned and his friends!

Piers is a wonderful invention - I always love the baddies! Laughing

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:58 pm

Wonderful Jo!
And I LOATHE that prat Piers already!!!

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

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:59 pm

Thanks Jo

What a lovely addition to the Harrow establishment!

*puts Piers in a barrell and rolls him down the Hill*

Liz

#142: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:54 pm

Liz said:

Quote:

*puts Piers in a barrell and rolls him down the Hill*

Pity there isn't a river at the bottom of Harrow Hill! I could make another suggestion about where rolling him down that hill might land him, but I think I'd risk being expelled from the Board for inciting someone to crime!

*What* an arrogant, condescending air head the boy is!!!! Hope Ned and friends can subdue him suitably without risking getting themselves into more trouble than they need.

#143: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:00 am

What an insufferable upstart!

Is the barrel lined with nails?

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

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:14 am

Elder in Ontario wrote:

Liz said:

[color=blue]Pity there isn't a river at the bottom of Harrow Hill! I could make another suggestion about where rolling him down that hill might land him, but I think I'd risk being expelled from the Board for inciting someone to crime!

Well I thought I'd save dragging him all the way to the Pinn and pushing him in, in case I need it later! Don't want to use all my resources in one go! Very Happy

Liz

#145: Author: Terry, Location: DUNDEE

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:54 pm

Wouldn't that contaminate the river. Think of the poor fishes.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:22 pm

ugh that Piers creature is a disgusting loathesome idiot!

expecting Harry fume

to shine his shoes fume

and him a new boy fume

ETA: thank you Jo!

#147: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:10 pm

Cameron blew sharply on his whistle and the players on the pitch came to a halt. “Okay, that’s it, everybody, thanks for turning out. I’ll be posting the team up tomorrow evening. Watson, give me a hand to pack up will you? The rest of you can go.”

As the rest of the boys filed back towards The Park, Ned began collecting up the bibs that they had tossed to one side, and walked across to join his captain. “We seem to have some pretty decent players,” he said, as he began to fold the bibs up and pile them neatly into the basket on the floor. “Should be able to replace Bennett and the others okay.”

Cameron nodded and watched the younger boy thoughtfully for a moment before replying. “Hopefully, yes. Listen Ned, what’s up with you and Lloyd-Kitchen?”

Ned shrugged. “Nothing much.”

“Oh come on, I’m not a fool. You avoided him all morning and you were hardly passing to him even when he was wide open – that’s not like you. What’s going on?”

“He’s just an ass, that’s all.”

“Yes, well be that as it may, he’s an ass who’s a very good winger, so you’ll have to get over it.”

Ned looked up in horror. “You’re not putting him on the team, are you?”

“Now who’s being an ass?” Cameron replied with a grin. “Of course I am – he was the best player out there apart from you and Bronson, and we need another winger now that Adamson’s gone.”

“Great! It’s bad enough I have to see him all day in the house and class, now I have to see him here too.”

“Yes, well I can’t help that, so you’ll have to just live with it, won’t you,” Cameron replied unsympathetically. “We need a new winger, and I’m not dropping him just because someone doesn’t get on with him, even if it’s you.” Ned opened his mouth to reply, but the elder boy cut him off. “I’m not arguing about it, so don’t bother trying. Go on, get off. I can finish this now,” and turning his back on him, Cameron refused to say another word.

Seeing nothing else for it, Ned made his way across the playing fields and in through doors leading to the changing rooms. Most of the boys had gone by the time he got there. Only the aforementioned Bronson was left and as Ned sat down and began to unlace his boots, the third-year closed his locker and turned to face him.

“Can you believe Lloyd-Kitchen turned out? He’s such a chump!”

Ned looked up with a grin. “That’s one word for him! He was actually good though, wasn’t he?" he added with a grimace. "Cameron’s just told me he’s in the team.”

“You’re joking?”

“Wish I was. Now we’re going to be stuck with him even more.”

Ned threw his boots into his locker, slammed it shut, and the two boys made their way out of the changing rooms, still bemoaning the presence of Piers on their team. As they neared the common room, they could hear a commotion going on inside and saw a crowd of boys around the door. Harry was standing near the back on his tiptoes, trying to see over people’s heads, and Ned walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Burgess and that idiot Lloyd-Toilet,” Harry replied, using one of his array of nicknames for his roommate. “He tried to get a first year to move out of a seat for him, and Dan started telling him to back off, apparently. Of course Lord Muck didn’t so now they’re having an almighty row.”

Peering round Harry’s head and squinting to see through a tiny gap, Ned saw Burgess, bright red and furious-looking, standing with a hand on the shoulder of a terrified first year who was cowering in his seat. Piers stood in front of them, regarding them both with utter disdain.

“You could do with learning something about who your betters are, Burgess. Just because Watson takes pity on you, doesn’t mean we all will. Now get out of the way – I’ve every right to ask for this seat.”

If it was possible, Burgess went even redder – he looked as if he was about to explode. “I'm not moving out of the way, especially not for a sod like you. You’re not the king, you idiotic moron, even if you think you are.”

“Tsk, tsk, language,” Piers replied patronisingly, and then taking hold of the first years arm, he pulled him up out of the chair and sat down himself. “Now, if you’d just done that to start with, it would have been lot easier. Don’t be fooled by your gallant defender – he’s nothing of the sort.”

For Burgess, this was the final straw, and losing his temper completely, he let rip at Piers, using the full range of the wide vocabulary he had inherited from his four older brothers. He was in mid-flow when a new voice, cold and furious, stopped him in his tracks.

“Burgess, what are you doing?”

Spinning round, Burgess found himself face to face with Atkinson, the new House Monitor. “This scum,” he shouted, pointing at Piers and forgetting who he was talking to, “tried to shove Donaldson out of his seat.”

“Lloyd-Kitchen?”

Piers shrugged and looked the prefect up and down. “Don’t ask me, it’s him making all the fuss,” he replied nonchalantly, tipping his head towards Burgess, who spluttered and turned to glare at him.

Atkinson looked from one to the other. “Come with me both of you,” and turning on his heel, he marched out of the room, leaving them to follow in his wake.

It wasn’t until the bell rang for lunch that Burgess finally returned to his study, to find Ned and Harry sitting on the beds waiting for him.

“What happened?” Ned asked anxiously.

“Got a detention,” he replied despondently. “Have to spend this afternoon weeding under the holly bushes.”

Despite himself, Ned started to laugh, and as Burgess glared at him, Harry decided to intervene.

“What about Lloyd-Kitchen?”

“Same thing.”

“Well I suppose Atkinson couldn’t really let you off, but it’s still not fair,” Harry replied, hitting the still-giggling Ned as they all walked out of the room.

They had just reached the bottom of the stairs when they heard a familiar braying laugh and turned to see Piers exiting the common room with two of his cronies. Catching sight of them, he threw filthy looks at Burgess and Harry and then turned to Ned.

“I really don’t see what you see in those two you know, Watson. Surely you should be mixing with people more your type.”

Turning on his heel, he began to walk off, but Ned called him back. “What exactly is ‘my type’?”

Piers turned back to face him with a sneer. “People more your class, if you know what I mean. I’m sure your Father would prefer it. Does he know who you hang around with?”

Harry made a move forward, but Ned grabbed his arm and held him back. “My Dad says class is how you treat people, not what family you’re born into, Piers. As far as I’m concerned, you’re as low-class as you can get.”

Piers shrugged. “Each to their own. You’ll learn one day that attitude won’t get you anywhere. It’s all about connections, old boy, connections,” and turning again, he sauntered off towards the dining hall.

The three boys stood and watched him leave, Ned glowering at the taller boy’s back. “I’m going to get him if it’s the last thing I do.”

Last edited by Josie on Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:27 pm; edited 1 time in total

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

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:18 pm

Really wish he'd not been any good on the rugby field. Looking forward to him being taught any number of lessons - but hope they don't involve Ned getting in serious trouble.

Thanks Jo.

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

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:21 pm

What a prat thet Piers is! Hope someone breaks his collarbone on the rugby field!!!

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

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:22 pm

Bother, I was sure he was a *ooh scary object run away type* oh well Ned and co will just have to get on with it and have some fun Very Happy

Thanks Jo

#151: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:27 pm

Unfortunately I suspect there's always a Piers in every class at a school like Harrow - he certainly is a prat of the first water!!

Here's hoping that Ned and the rest can accept that he's good at rugby and accept him there, for the good of the house, while still finding ways of disabusing him of some of his less likeable attitudes without getting into too much more trouble themselves. Part of me would love to hear Edgar's view of Piers - I probably can't because it wouldn't be printable!!!

Thanks, Josie -enjoying this as always.

#152: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:14 pm

I agree with Ned's views on class. I can't believe anyone would want to be one of Piers' cronies!

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

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:23 pm

Thanks Jo

*produces bucket of very cold slime*

*sneaks up behind Piers*

*tips it over his head and makes sure it goes down his neck*

Liz

#154: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:27 pm

Elder in Ontario wrote:

Unfortunately I suspect there's always a Piers in every class at a school like Harrow

I suspect there's one in any community, though the snobbery may be differently expressed!

Thanks Josie. Poor Ned Confused

#155: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:51 pm

Good for Burgess* to stand up to Scummy Piers - I hope he'll get his comeuppance soon! (but not too soon because this is a good storyline!)

Thanks Josie!

* Great surname btw Wink

#156: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:14 am

The trouble is that it takes a lot to shake that sort of self-assurance.

#157: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:23 am

in true CS style, Piers would now have to have his life saved by Burgess, thus helping him to realise the error of his ways....

thanks Jo Wink

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

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 4:47 pm

loathesome little object

it's a shame he's good at rugby - i really wish he hadn't made the team and then we could have laughed at him heartily.

#159: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:59 pm

Wishes he would break his collar-bone? I can think of better bones for him to break!

He needs a good kick up the backside.

#160: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:15 pm

As was his duty as captain of the Under 14 school team, Ned stood at the front of the crowd waving off the visiting team from St Paul’s School, and then turned dejectedly back to the house. As he slouched along, shoulders hunched, Laskar, his team-mate and fellow Park boy, appeared at his elbow, his rugby boots slung over his shoulder.

“Buck up, Ned, it could have been worse.”

Ned glanced at him for a second, and then shaking his head, he stared back at his feet as he made his way across the forecourt. “Don’t see how it could’ve been. We lost 45-0 and I got sent off.”

“We all know whose fault that was,” Laskar grimaced, as he heard a braying laugh ahead of them.

Lifting his head, Ned followed his friend’s glare inside the entrance door to the main school. “Yeah, I ‘spose.”

Piers guffawed with laughter again and then turning his head, he saw Ned staring at him as he came towards him. “I say, Watson, wasn’t exactly the done thing bellowing on the pitch like that, was it? Hardly the example a chap of your breeding should be setting – not surprised you got sent off. Makes one wonder if you should really be captain anymore, frankly.”

“I wouldn’t have had bellow to if you hadn’t kept hogging the ball and had actually passed it,” Ned snapped back. “Rugby’s supposed to be a team game, or is your brain too small to work that out?”

“Now, now, no need for that,” Piers replied loftily, “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, you know.”

“That wasn’t sarcasm, you great oaf, it’s the truth!” Laskar replied incredulously. “Can’t you tell the difference?”

Piers merely sneered at him. “I wasn’t addressing you, Laskar.”

“Oh go and play in a dung heap,” Ned retorted stroppily, “it’s where you belong anyway.”

“Watson, a word, please, in my office.”

Spinning round, Ned saw Mr. Bristow, the Games Master, calling him from his office door. Resignedly he turned and started walking towards him.

“Jolly good. Going to get the dressing down you deserve,” Piers called after him.

Ned ignored him, but Mr. Bristow heard and frowned. “What are you still doing here, Lloyd-Kitchen?” he called. “Get yourself back to the The Park, right away, please. I’ve seen enough of you for one day,” and leaving Piers to do as he was told, he turned back to Ned. “In here please, Watson. You can wait if you like, Laskar, we won’t be long.

Laskar nodded. “Thank you, Sir.”

Ned grimaced at his friend and followed Mr. Bristow into his office, shutting the door behind him. It was now the end of October, and he was settling in well to his second year at Harrow School. In class, he had continued the good work of the previous year, and was regularly among the top five or six in the class. Elsewhere, he was excelling on the rugby field, as ever, and having discovered a new passion for rowing, had also joined the school squad. To top it all off, Mr. Schulstad had paid his promised visit a couple of weekends previously and had taken Ned and Harry up in his plane, even allowing Ned to take the controls for a few minutes, which had thrilled him to pieces and made him even more determined to fulfill his ambition to join the R.A.F. So all in all, he was finding life pretty good.

The one blot on his happiness was Piers Lloyd-Kitchen. Despite their best efforts, the rest of the second years in The Park had failed miserably when it came to trying to bring him down a few pegs, and they were beginning to realise it was not going to be as easy to teach him a lesson as they had first thought. Narrow-minded and thick-skinned, he had simply sneered at their attempts, missing their point entirely and patronisingly telling them that it was what he expected of ‘people like them’. The Masters and Prefects found him as irritating as his classmates did, but as he did all his work and never actually broke the school rules, there was little they could pull him up for other than talking out of turn and occasionally being rude.

From Ned’s point of view, matters were made worse by Piers’ sporting abilities. The house rugby trials had proved that he really was as good a sportsman as he claimed to be, and Ned soon found himself having to put up with him not only in the house team, but in the school teams as well. Being his teammate was bad enough, but it was in the Under 14 rugby team, where Ned was captain, that he found Piers hardest to deal with. His constant questioning of direction and refusal to obey team tactics drove Ned to distraction. His constant questioning of direction and refusal to obey team tactics drove Ned to distraction, and the growing tension had culminated in today’s shouting match on the pitch, which in turn had resulted in Ned being sent off in disgrace for using language that had shocked one or two of the spectators and had the opposing team in stitches. As a result, Harrow had lost and Mr. Bristow was in none too good a mood.

It was late afternoon by the time Ned finally got back to his boarding house. Entering the common room, he found a noisy game of indoor cricket going on. Catching the ball as it was hit towards him, he declined an invitation to join in, threw it back to the bowler and made his way to the far side of the room, where Harry was sitting at a table wrestling with some prep he hadn’t finished the night before. As Ned pulled out a chair and sat down next to him, he looked up with a grimace.

“I’m never going to get this stupid geog. done. It’s beyond me which contour lines go where.”

Ned peered over at his friend’s book and pulled a face. “You’re not joking! You can borrow mine if you like – it’s up in my room, help yourself.”

“Thanks.” Harry grinned and pushed his book away from him, sitting back in his chair. “I’ve got my stuff for The Harrovian to do too, and I thought I’d never get round to it.”

It was Ned’s turn to grimace. “Want to write my match report for me too? Not sure I can face it.”

“Yeah, I heard,” Harry replied, giving his friend a sympathetic smile. “Laskar told us. Did Britches roast you?” he asked, referring to Mr. Bristow.

“Almost. He made me clean all the eccer kit and scrub out the changers. I smell like a rotten pond.”

Harry laughed, and at that moment, the common room door opened to admit Piers. He caught sight of Ned and Harry and started to walk towards them, a smug look on his face. Then something made him think better of it, possibly the murderous expression on Ned’s face, and he turned and walked across to an empty chair on the opposite side.

Ned glared at him for a moment and then pulled a face. “I haven’t hated anyone this much since Donkey-Face,” he said, referring to his father’s former girlfriend. “He’s so dense – nothing gets through his thick skull.”

Harry glanced at their foe and then turned back to his friend with a wicked grin. “Maybe we should set your stepmum on him. I bet she’d get through to him!”

Ned laughed inspite of himself. “I’d say. He wouldn’t know what hit him if Evvy got going – she’d tear shreds off him. I’ve heard her on at Dad a couple of times, and she loves him!” The two boys stared over at Piers for a moment, both happily imagining what Ned’s stepmother would say to their nemesis given the chance, and then Ned heaved a sigh. “Shame she’s in Geneva,” he said, resting his hands on his chin and staring out of the window.

“Yeah pity,” Harry replied, mimicking his friend’s action.

They stayed like that for a minute or so, staring wistfully out of the window, before Ned scraped back him chair and got to his feet. “Right, I’m off to the Tosh, I reek,” he said, referring to the shower block, and with a “See you later,” he headed off out the door.

A second later, he remembered that Harry wanted to borrow his geography book, and turned back to the common room again. Pushing the door open hard, he was about to shout to his friend when he felt it connect with something solid and a familiar drawling voice yelled, “You imbecile, can’t you be more careful!”

The room fell silent as everybody turned to stare, and Ned peered round the door to see Piers clutching his nose, his eyes watering.

Fighting the urge to laugh, Ned put on his best ‘Piers voice’ and said, “Sorry, old chap, didn’t realise you were there. Bad luck eh?” Then turning to Harry, “Did you want my geog?”

Choking down his laughter as Piers’ continued demanding sympathy at the top of his voice, getting none in return, Harry nodded and made his way towards his friend. They closed the door behind them and both burst out laughing.

“That was brilliant! You should have seen his face when the door hit him – it was priceless!”

“And it wasn’t even on purpose,” Ned choked, clutching his stomach and gasping for air.

The common room door opened, and Piers came out surrounded by a couple of his hangers-on who were fussing around him like old women.

“Go straight to Matron and do stop making such a fuss,” Atkinson called after them, having followed them into the hall. “Anyone would think your nose was about to fall off!” Ned spluttered at this and the prefect turned to face him. “Stop loitering in the hall, you two, go and do something useful, before I find you something to do myself. And be more careful when you open doors in future, Watson.”

Still chuckling the two boys made their way up the stairs towards their studies, the odd gurgle of laughter coming from them as they struggled to regain control. Atkinson watched them go, and then with a smile touching the edge of his lips, he turned back into the common room and shut the door.

Last edited by Josie on Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:43 am; edited 2 times in total

#161: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:25 pm

I'm glad the Masters can't stand Piers either. I was starting to worry they thought Piers was great. Thanks for another wonderful update, Josie.

#162: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:29 pm

Clearly Piers still isn't doing anything to endear himself to the majority of the boys in his year, house, teams (despite his skills in sports) or commonroom, and driving poor Ned to distraction in the process.

The picture of what might happen if Evvy tackled him is highly amusing, while Ned's completely accidental exploit with the door was just icing on the cake, especially since the results weren't really all that serious for Piers (OK, I'm usually a tolerant person, but people like Piers are definitely beyond tolerating!) Atkinson's attitude, too, clearly conveys the fact that no-one except Piers' couple of cronies were too upset by the incident!

Thanks Josie.

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

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:32 pm

Also glad to see that the Prefects and Masters don't think much of Piers either - wonderful accident - hope there are more to come! Laughing

#164: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:35 am

I should imagine the awful Piers sets everyones teeth on edge! Poor Ned and Harry!

Thanks, Josie

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:04 am

Thanks Jo - so glad that the door got revenge for Ned!

Liz

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:27 am

Was the door made of a suitable wood to touch little Piers? He might get infected with common-ness if it was made of deal, for instance! Smile

#167: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:55 am

I giggled aloud at the door incident! Laughing

*pokes Piers* poke

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:39 pm

*thinks people should open doors into Piers more often*

Glad Atkinson took the incident the right way and Ned won't be punished for something that wasn't really his fault, even if it was rather desirable.

#169: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:48 pm

*bouncing and spreeing for more*

*bounce!* *spree!* *bounce!* *spree!* and so on

Pleeeese Josie?

#170: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:26 pm

wheeeee Josie! just read the whole of this part! YAY thank you for shiny drabble ness! Very Happy

#171: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:20 pm

Thanks for your comments everyone, they're very much appreciated. Very Happy

We'll be returning to Piers in due course, but now back to Geneva...

As half-term approached, things at school were finally beginning to settle down for Thea again. It hadn’t been an easy start to the year at all. Despite Miss Engel’s warnings, Franny had done her best to continue her campaign against her, making attempts at starting malicious whispers, ‘accidentally’ spilling ink on her work, tripping her up in corridors and generally trying to make her life a misery.

The difference from a year previously, however, was that this time, Franny found herself with no sympathisers at all. Thea’s gentle and unassuming manner had won her many friends among her classmates, a fact that Franny failed to recognise, and the kindness and generosity she had shown them was now paying dividends. Rather than siding with Franny, as that young lady had presumed they would, they instead found her behaviour abhorrent and the longer she continued with her campaign against Thea, the more isolated she found herself.

Seeing what was happening within her class, Regina Engel had tried several times to speak to Franny and point out the error of her ways, but she refused to listen, just sitting in front of her defiantly, her arms crossed, claiming that she hadn’t done anything wrong. In the end Miss Engel gave up and instead talked to the whole class about bullying and its effects, in the hope that they would at least listen and not turn on Franny herself.

Thea, in particular, had taken this lesson very much to heart. She had gone home that evening and discussed it with her parents, who had explained to her the fine line between not liking someone and bullying, and that maybe Franny acted the way she did because she had problems of her own. Mindful of this, Thea had been careful not to be nasty to Franny in any way, and had even gone as far as picking her for her teams in games lessons and trying to talk to her on occasion, much to her friends’ amazement and Marcia’s disgust. Franny, however, had shown no interest whatsoever, and Thea was starting to wonder why she was bothering.

It was now two days before half-term was due to begin, and the class were all out in the playground after lunch, playing a game of Red Rover. Laughing as she watched Jean-Luc get swallowed up by the opposing team’s line, Thea glanced round and spotted Franny sitting alone on a bank, watching them playing, a look of longing on her face. It was quite clear that she wanted to join in, but didn’t feel that she could.

Thea turned to Kate who was beside her in the line. “Back in a minute.”

“Where are you going?”

“To ask Franny if she wants to come and play.”

Kate stared at her friend incredulously. “Why d’you want to do that?”

“’Cause she looks like she wants to,” Thea replied, “and anyway, she’s being left out and you know what Miss Engel said.”

“She could join in herself if she wanted to,” Kate replied unsympathetically. “We didn’t make her sit on the bank.”

“I know, but I’m still going to ask her.”

“You’re crackers if you ask me!”

Thea grinned at her friend, and leaving her team to catch Lucy without her, she made her way across to the bank.

Franny looked over at Thea as she approached, and her expression turned to a malevolent glare. Ignoring her, Thea forced a smile onto her face.

“Hi Franny. Do you want to come and play?”

Franny wanted desperately to join in, but her stubborn pride and stupidity was not going to accept an olive branch from Thea, so instead, she arranged her face into a scowl.

“No thank you, I’m fine here.”

Thea looked at her questioningly and tried again. “Are you sure? You can be on mine and Kate’s team if you want.”

“I said no,” Franny snapped back. “Just get away from me, Thea Watson. I’d rather eat a cowpat than be on your team! Other people may not know what you are, but I do, so don’t bother with your pretend niceness!” and getting to her feet, she stalked off towards the opposite side of the playground.

Thea watched her go for a second, and then shrugged her shoulders and walked back towards her team. Franny’s insults didn’t upset her, she no longer took them personally, something which frustrated young Franny even more.

Kate, who had watched the whole thing, gave her friend a grin as she moved up to let her back in line. “She didn’t want to come then?”

Thea shook her head. “Said she’d rather eat a cowpat.”

“I can get her one if she wants,” Kate replied, laughing, and Thea giggled and hit her on the arm.

“Don’t be mean!”

“She deserves it!” Then as she heard ‘Red Rover, Red Rover, send Thea over,’ she gave her friend a shove. “Go on, your turn. Bet you don’t make it!”

“Bet I do!” Thea retorted, and with Franny forgotten for the moment, she set off at a run towards the opposing team.

==

Back at the Watsons’ home, Edgar had just finished his lunch and was sitting on a large sofa in the salon, reading the paper and sipping a coffee. He was supposed to be working, but had decided to give himself a few hours off. He had lit the open fire, as it was a cold day, and Scrabble was stretched out on a rug in front of it, warming his belly on the heat from the flames. Henry was sitting in his father’s lap, propped up against his right arm, and Edgar was reading him bits from the paper and pointing out pictures while his son played with some discarded pages, scrunching them up in his tiny fists and trying to put them in his mouth.

It was a few minutes before he realised that his wife was standing in the main doorway, watching them with a wide smile on her face.

“What are you two up to?”

Henry looked up and squealed at the sound of his mother’s voice, and Edgar laughed and dropped a kiss on his head.

“We’re reading the paper, aren’t we Henry?” Then turning back to his wife, “I’m starting him young – I have high hopes for him becoming prime minister!”

Evadne laughed. “Not aiming too high for him then?”

“Not at all.” Edgar chuckled and Henry squealed again and held out his arm towards his mother. “Do you think Mummy should come and join us, little man?” Henry looked up at his father and giggled, and Edgar raised a hand to stop him putting some newspaper into his mouth. “I think that means yes. Come on, Lady Watson, do as your son tells you. I've given Monique the afternoon off by the way, didn't think we'd need her seeing as I don't intend to do any work!”

"That's fine." Evvy smiled and made her way across to the sofa, sitting down and slipping one hand through her husband’s arm. Edgar bent his head and dropped a kiss on her fair curls before turning back to the newspaper.

“Now then, where were we?” He began reading a column about some recent policies passed by the British Government, and then pointed to a picture nearby. “And that’s Princess Margaret and Captain Peter Townsend – she’s going to marry him and people aren’t happy about it.” Seeing Evadne listening intently, Edgar grinned. “This is good – I’m educating two people at once!”

“Hey! “ his wife exclaimed indignantly, poking him in the chest. Henry gurgled and copied her and Evadne laughed. “Say, look at that! I’ve got a defender now!

“Well I like that!” Edgar said looking indignantly at his son who giggled and poked him again. “Has Mummy been teaching you bad habits? You’re more trouble than the children!” he added, turning to his wife with a twinkle in his eye.

Evvy grinned. “Aren’t you supposed to be working anyhow?”

“I am, yes, but this is so much more fun, don’t you think?” he replied, putting an arm around her shoulders.

“Oh, much!” she replied, lifting her face and reaching up to kiss him on the lips.

Unimpressed at the lack of attention being paid to him, Henry let out a loud squeal and kicked his legs, sending the newspaper out of Edgar’s hand and onto the floor. As Evvy laughed and bent down to pick it up, Edgar fixed his son with a stern glare.

“What’s wrong with you, young man?”

“He’s jealous, aren’t you sugar-pie?” Evadne said, sitting back up with the paper and leaning across her husband’s lap to kiss her son on the tip of his nose. He giggled and grabbed hold of a one of his mother’s loose curls. “There, see?” she added, as she extracted her hair from his grasp with an ease that spoke of having done so many times before. “He just wanted a kiss.”

“Ah, so that’s what it is!” and bending down, Edgar blew a raspberry on his son’s cheek, causing him to laugh and kick his legs again.

At that moment, the phone rang, and leaving them to it, Evadne stood up, throwing the paper down on the sofa, and went to answer it. She returned seconds later, her blue eyes wide with concern.

“Edgar it’s Clare, Paul’s sister. She wants to talk to you – says it’s urgent.”

Edgar stood up, apprehension showing in his face. “What’s happened?”

“I don’t know – quick, she may not have the line for long.”

Handing Henry to his wife, Edgar hurried out of the room to take the call. It was some minutes before he returned, by which time Evadne was sitting on the sofa, Henry in her arms, and she looked up anxiously as he came back in the room.

“Evvy, I…I have to go.”

She was alarmed to see his face sheet-white and setting Henry down on the sofa, she stood up and hurried over to his side. “Go where? What’s happened?”

He looked down at her, his eyes glazed over with shock. “Accident I think or…I don’t know, Paul’s been crushed or something, I’m not sure. He’s in hospital…lost lots of blood.” He was starting to shake slightly and he lowered himself into a nearby chair and stared straight ahead of him. “They…they don’t know if he’ll pull through.” Evadne gasped and put a hand to her mouth, and Edgar stared up at her in a daze. “I have to go.”

Seeing that her husband was in a state of shock, Evadne did her best to pull herself together and take charge. Getting him a steaming cup of tea, she pressed it into his hands and then went to his study to call the airlines and see if there were any free seats on the afternoon London flights. That done, she ran upstairs, leaving Henry in his playpen, and hurriedly threw some of Edgar’s clothes and his wash things into a bag. Three quarters of an hour later, they were in her Renault on the way to the airport, Henry in his carrycot in the back seat.

Once there, Edgar hurriedly checked in and they made their way towards the departure gates. On reaching them, he came to a halt and turned to face his wife and son. He was still in shock and his voice sounded flat and empty as he spoke.

“Tell the girls I said goodbye and I’ll talk to them on the phone. Can you call my secretary and let her know what's happened?”

“Edgar…”

“I’ll call you as soon as I can once I'm there,” he continued, interrupting her and stooping to kiss Henry. “I should be there by about six this evening…”

“Edgar, please, listen.” She was beginning to choke up a bit and her voice was shaking. “Look after Elsie okay? Send her all my love. Tell her…tell her I’ll come if she wants me.”

Edgar stared at her for a second and then nodded, bending to kiss her mechanically on the head. “I’d better go. I’ll speak to you later,” and turning on his heel, he made his way towards passport control.

“I love you,” Evadne called out impulsively, but he didn’t acknowledge her, didn’t even turn around. She watched him as he handed his passport over for checking and then disappeared through the gates. Then hugging Henry to her, she turned and walked sadly back to the car.

Last edited by Josie on Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:43 pm; edited 3 times in total

#172: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:35 pm

wow. I did NOT see that coming.

*wibbling*

#173: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:48 pm

I hope Paul and everyone else will be ok. The scenes with Henry were lovely. How old is Henry meant to be now?

#174: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:59 pm

Thanks Jo. Just caught up on loads of this. Love the school scenes - hope Ned and co can shut Piers up soon.

Poor Thea - glad she is handling things so well.

Please let Paul be OK.

#175: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:50 pm

Thanks. I'm going to have to be careful aout reading this while I'm using library computers. Not that there are a lot of us about, but still it doesnt help if I go laughing (as in the case of Ned/Peirs scenario - ace by the way) or anything else while reading this. I hope that Paul is alright

#176: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:07 pm

Also glad that Thea is doing so well, and echoing the pleas for Paul to be all right.

#177: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:08 pm

Oh, No! Poor Paul and Elsie!

I love how Thea is handling Frannie but am wibbling madly about Paul!

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:29 pm

oh no!

please please let Paul be alright. *huggles Edgar, Elsie, Evvy*

#179: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:31 pm

*wibble, weeble and eeeeek*

For goodness sake Josie can they not be just happy and content for more than a page?!?!??!?!?!?! LOL

Just kidding, am loving it! Very Happy

#180: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:01 pm

I did not bounce for a nasty wibbly cliff Josie!
*sulks*

Very Happy

Thank you btw!

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:14 pm

Love how Thea is handling things - so pleased Franny is getting nowhere!

Love the family scene with Evvy, Edgar and Henry.

But poor Paul!!!! And poor Elsie!!!!! bawling

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

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:15 pm

Waaaah!!!

Jo! Don't you DARE kill Paul off!

#183: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:25 am

Oh no!!!! Poor Paul and Elsie!

#184: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:09 am

Josie, I have had to wait to catch up on all this and read it all as I had got so far behind.

I have loved all the schools scenes, and that tender little passage with Edgar, Evvy and Henry, but of course I now find myself on a cliff! Shocked

I do hope Paul will be okay. It does NOT sound good.

#185: Author: Helen C, Location: Sheffield/Luton

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:34 pm

Just caught up on this its as brilliant as ever. Please let Paul be ok.

#186: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:14 pm

Jo!! Come and post some more please!

I know I'm using your computer and could raid it til I find an update, but I think that would be cheating... hurry up and come home from work!

Wink

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

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:38 pm

Thanks Jo

So glad Thea has completely risen above Franny.

I hope Paul is ok - or if not that Edgar gets there on time

*stocks up on tissues*

Liz

#188: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:37 am

It was seven o’clock in the evening by the time Edgar finally reached the London hospital where Paul had been taken after the accident. Tired and overwrought, he made his way hurriedly through the corridors to intensive care, where a nurse pointed him in the right direction once he had explained who he was. Paul’s sister Clare was sitting in a chair pushed back against the wall, her head in her hands. As she heard footsteps approaching down the corridor, she looked up, and seeing Edgar coming towards her, she jumped to her feet.

“Oh, Edgar, thank goodness you’re here. Elsie’s been asking for you - I didn’t know what to tell her, didn’t know if you’d make it, if you were coming or....” She was babbling in her relief at seeing him, and Edgar took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes.

“What happened?”

Clare shook her head and looked down at the floor for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m…I’m not entirely sure. There was a car, it…it swerved or something…I…I don’t know. He was walking…it pinned him against a wall, crushed his legs.” Her voice began to choke up and she had to take a deep breath to bring herself back under control. “Edgar, they…they had to amputate part of his leg, it was crushed so badly - said it was that or he would have died. He’s still unconscious and he lost so much blood. They’re still not sure if he’ll even come round.”

As she finished speaking, she began to shake, trying hard to hold back her sobs, and Edgar held her briefly to him before pulling back and taking her gently by the shoulders again. “Clare, where’s Elsie?”

Clare pointed to a closed door near to where they were standing. “She’s in there with him. She won’t leave him and the nurse didn’t have the heart to force her to just yet. He’s got a room to himself, the other bed’s empty, so they let her stay.”

Edgar nodded, squeezing her shoulders again and giving her a weak smile, and then made his way towards the door. He had his hand on the handle and was about to open it when a sharp voice called him back.

“Excuse me, sir, you can’t go in there.”

Edgar was about to explain who he was, prepared to argue hard with the nurse if necessary, when Clare stepped forward and intervened. “This is Sir Edgar, who Mrs. Rodwell’s been asking for. He’s like a brother to Paul, they’ve been friends for so long. I know he shouldn’t, but won’t you let him in, just for a few minutes? Please?”

The nurse hesitated for a moment, looking from one to the other, and then gave a nervous glance back at her colleague who was seated behind a desk at the end of the corridor reading a magazine. “I really shouldn’t you know.” Then glancing at Clare’s pleading face again, she relented. “Okay, but only for five minutes, no more,” and turning on her heel, she hurried off again back to her post.

Edgar turned the handle, opened the door slowly and entered the room. Closing the door behind him again, he took a couple of paces into the room and then stopped, shocked, as he took in the scene. Paul was lying in a bed directly opposite the door. He was very still, his face drained of all its colour, save for a red gash on his forehead that seemed to stand out even more against his pale skin. He looked like he had aged about twenty years. Looking down the bed, Edgar could see the bedclothes raised over his legs where a cage protected his wounds. Elsie was sitting in a chair to the right of the bed, leaning forward, her head resting against her husband’s side. She was holding his hand tightly in her own, his bent arm clasped firmly to her chest.

Edgar gave a small cough. “Elsie?”

She raised her head slowly from the bed and turned her face towards him. Her eyes were barely open, the area around them red and swollen from crying, and it took her a few seconds to focus on him, to recognise who was there.

As she stared at him, he crossed the room to stand beside her, placing a hand on the top of her head. Elsie looked up at him for a moment, and then leaning towards him, her husband’s hand still clasped firmly in her own, she buried her face in her friend’s side and began to sob. Edgar placed an arm around her shoulders, holding her closely to him, staring down at the inert form of his oldest friend in the bed below him, and then slowly closed his eyes.

Last edited by Josie on Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:57 am; edited 2 times in total

#189: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:17 am

Oh, my! Come on Paul, you can survive this!!

#190: Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:32 am

Here's hoping that he will, too, though I think we're going to be in suspense for a while yet. But whatever the outcome, at least Edgar got there in time.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:57 am

So sad, does this mean...?

Thank you, i think, Josie.

#192: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:32 am

Josie don't do this to Paul, Edgar and Elsie. Please.

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:35 am

Thanks Josie (I think). Glad Edgar got there in time. Was about to say will pray for Paul and then realised what I was about to type Embarassed

#194: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:06 am

I do hope Edgar will be able to rally everyone.

Thanks, Josie

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:38 am

Thank you Jo - I'm so glad Edgar has arrived and that the nurse let him in.

I hope Paul survives - but losing part of his leg Crying or Very sad

Liz

#196: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:55 am

Thank you Josie. I know just what Caroline meant! These are people we have got to 'know' and love through your writing.

I keep wanting to turn the next page and see what happens next .........

and I can't! Crying or Very sad

#197: Author: Robin, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:04 am

patmac wrote:

TI keep wanting to turn the next page and see what happens next .........

me too!

Please let Paul be ok - there have been enough deaths in this!!

Thanks Jo

#198: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:11 pm

Oh nooooo

Please Josie!

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

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:06 pm

*gulps* Poor Paul Sad

*hugs Elsie tightly, Im glad Edgar can be there for them. Thanks Jo.

#200: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:24 pm