The CBB :: View topic - An out-take from Alternative Romance

#1: An out-take from Alternative Romance Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:20 pm

I'm not a Secret Santa but have enjoyed everyone else's Christmas drabbles so much that I thought I'd leave this as my present to the board. Sorry it's not more Alternative Challenge - I promise it will resume when I return in 2005 from globe-trotting - honest! A very Merry Christmas everyone. Kiss

“Miss Wilmot?” The junior mathematics mistress approached her head of department timidly. Most people found Nancy Wilmot approachable, but to the new Staff Baby, only just out of college, her thirty-something years made her rather a daunting figure. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I wonder if I might have a word?”

“Of course you may!” Nancy cast aside the paper she was reading and smiled with her usual friendliness at the newest member of staff. “Take a seat and make yourself comfortable,” she waved towards the nearest armchair, “You’ve been here nearly a fortnight now, it’s high time we had a proper talk. Tell me how it’s going, and what I can do to help. Oh, and please, for goodness’ sake call me Nancy. You certainly will eventually, so you might as well begin as you’re bound to end!”

Kathie Ferrars returned the smile shyly. “Thank you.” She settled herself in the seat indicated. “I’m quite enjoying the classes. I like the Middles, and as I take them for geography as well, I’ve had twice the chance to learn their names! That helps.”

Nancy chuckled. “I spent hours memorising the form registers in my first school! Isn’t it a ghastly feeling when you get a name wrong? You know it’s not because you don’t recognise the girl, but she’ll think you don’t know her at all.”

“Ye-es,” Kathie looked rather anxious. “I don’t think I’ve made any slip-ups yet, but I do have to ask people to repeat their names sometimes.”

Nancy eyed this earnest new mistress with interest. “That’s only natural. You’ll get there soon enough.” She leant back against the sofa. “So what’s been the hardest part so far?” She smiled at the younger woman’s swift glance of surprise, “I’m a teacher too, I know it’s hard.”

Kathie’s reserve began to thaw under this easy warmth. “It is! Not the subject matter, of course. Geography is straightforward enough after my degree, and I took all the maths options I could at school.” She smiled at the head of maths, “I’m afraid it’s nothing like what you’ll have studied, but I know I can deal with algebra and arithmetic, at least!”

Nancy nodded comfortably, “Nell Wilson told me you’d discussed that in June. I’m just delighted to have someone who can take the Fourths. The School’s grown so much in the last two years that it’s impossible for one person to teach all the forms now. And you’re quite right – if you’ve done advanced maths in sixth form, junior maths should be a breeze. Though you’re always welcome to come to me with any problems,” she added with a smile.

“Thank you.” Kathie privately resolved that she would spend hours wrestling with any difficulty before she admitted it to her head of department. “I think I’ll be all right, though.”

“Glad to hear it,” Nancy let it go. “And how’s the teaching itself? How do you find French and German days?”

Kathie turned scarlet. “How did you know that was the difficulty?”

Nancy eyed her with amusement. “A good guess!” Then she saw real distress on the new mistress’s face, and reached across to touch her arm, “Relax, Kathie. No one has said anything to me, and I haven’t heard anyone talking. I’m quite sure it’s not as bad as you think. But I was a pupil here myself, and I do remember just how hard it was trying to get along in three languages.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just a little tired,” Kathie blinked back the tears that had sprung up at this unexpectedly gentle reassurance. “I know it’s hard for the girls too. But when you’re in front of a class and you have to search for the words to exercise your authority…”

Nancy, who had joined the school only in sixth form and struggled to deal with prefectship in a trilingual environment, could empathise. “Tell me what French and German you’ve done before.”

“Both for Higher Certificate. And I did love languages that was one of the reasons I wanted to teach on the continent. So I kept reading books in both during my time at university – some academic, but mostly novels or plays.”

Nancy was impressed by this industry. “That’s more than most people in England would do.”

“Yes,” Kathie’s face lifted for a moment, before clouding over once again. “But reading and writing is so different from talking – well, living – in another language. And I’ve only ever had the chance to speak French when I travelled with my aunt and uncle in Normandy for a few weeks. Now I have to stand up in front of classes and not only teach, but keep order, when I know how horribly British I sound. It’s simply frightful!”

The elder woman felt sorry for her. “Kathie, please don’t give yourself too hard a time about it,” she said abruptly. “The Heads have seen your curriculum vitae, and they know what you’ve done and what you haven’t. If they hired you even though you’ve never worked in French or German, it’s because they’re sure that you can pick it up quickly enough – not that you’re already word perfect.”

Inter V’s form-mistress exhaled slowly. “Thanks.”

Nancy studied her face carefully, “Really. I mean it. And you know you can ask any of us for support, don’t you?” She smiled suddenly. “It’s not just the girls that Jeanne and Julie help. If you want, they’ll write you lists of useful phrases – “would you all be quiet and get to your seats this instant!” for example!”

This unexpected comment made Kathie laugh. “Maybe I will ask them. That kind of thing would come in useful!”

“Do,” Nancy encouraged her. “And then Rosalind and I can help if you’ve got any questions about technical vocabulary. I know it’s easy enough to get by in maths by resorting to equations, but it’s always best to have the confidence to talk about the – the meaning as well.” The head of maths paused to think for a moment. “Would it help to talk through your French and German classes beforehand? I don’t want to add to your workload unnecessarily, though” she added, seeing her junior’s worried expression, “So only take up the offer if it would be useful.”

Kathie shook her shiny brown head, “Oh no! It would be awfully useful. I’m just afraid it would be a burden on your time.”

“What am I head of department for if not to help?” Nancy said lightly. “I tell you what. I’ll get Rosalie to take you off one of your prep duties each week, and we can use that time to talk. And if you don’t mind working at the weekends, I can spare a couple of hours then. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful!” Kathie’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you so much. It’s very kind of you.”

“Not at all. And I’ll tell Rosalind Moore what we’re doing, and I expect she’ll follow suit,” Nancy said cheerfully. “But any opportunity you can take to speak French or German will be worth it. You should get us to talk to you in whatever you find hardest.” She saw her colleague’s involuntary expression of dismay, and laughed. “Don’t tell me, I know it’s a relief to come back to the staffroom and relax into English! But it’ll be worth it in the long run.”

Kathie laughed at how quickly her companion had picked up her reaction. “I’m sure you’re right,” she admitted. “Very well, I’ll do my best – even if it goes against the grain!”

“Good for you!” Nancy’s eyes twinkled. She glanced at the staffroom clock, “Oops! It’s nearly time for my next class.” She got to her feet, and smiled down at the younger woman, who had also risen but stood a good six inches shorter than her. “Do you have plans for Saturday afternoon? Biddy and I were going to take a walk out to St. Cecilie – you’d be welcome to join us. In whatever language you prefer!”

Kathie smiled, and put out her hand instinctively. “Thanks. I’d love to.”

“Then it’s a deal!” Nancy shook on it. “Now I really must run. Don’t forget though – come to me or any of the others if you need help.” She smiled, and her companion realised with surprise that Nancy Wilmot, with her wavy blond hair framing her cheerful face, was pretty.

“I will. Thanks!” And Kathie left the staff room feeling that she had made a new friend that day.

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

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:25 pm

Ahhhh, the start of a beautiful friendship. Thank you Catherine - that was lovely. Kiss

#3: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:33 pm

That was great Catherine, thank you and Happy Christmas!

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

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:35 pm

That was lovely Cathy! Thank you!

#5: Author: JustJen, Location: waiting for a bus

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:37 pm

Ha, that was beautiful

Jenn

who just burned the christmas cookies

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

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:49 pm

All warm adn fluffy - thankyou Catherine

#7: Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:04 pm

Absolutely lovely. Thank you

#8: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:18 pm

Thank you Catherine that was lovely.

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

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 9:56 am

Ah, so they spent time together without the rest, which strengthened their relationship as colleagues & hastened the development into friendship...

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

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 9:26 pm

*warm and fuzzy* Thank you Catherine - hope you're enjoying your Christmas!

#11: Author: Helen P, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 11:24 pm

Thankyou Catherine - what a lovely Christmas present!

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

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 12:12 pm

That was a wonderful pressie, thank you Cathy Very Happy

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

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:11 pm

Thank you Cathy! Very Happy

Lovely Christmas pressie Kiss

#14: Author: Kateth, Location: Heidelberg

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 7:31 pm

Ooh, thank you! Fuzzy! Very Happy

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

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:10 pm

Thank you Catherine, that was lovely.

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

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2004 12:21 am

Thank you Cathy, hope you are having a great holiday! Such a realistic 'beginning of relationship scene!' [size=7]Looking forward to more of Alt Challenge when you get back[/size]

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

Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 11:44 am

Thank you Cathy. Lovely and so realistic for the beginnings of their friendship. Very Happy

#18: Author: Mora, Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 11:35 pm

*sighs a happy sigh* Kathie is so sweet, and Nancy's so lovely. Thankd you Catherine!

#19: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:01 am

Thanks, Cathy! Impressed by Kathie's getting up the guts to go to Nancy ... and Nancy's response. *looks forward to more Alt Challenge*

#20: Author: Rachael,

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:31 am

Awwww - "the beginning of a beautiful friendship" ... Heart

Lovely, Cathy - just wish I'd seen it before the hols!! Thank you! Absolutely perfect - Kathie's natural self-doubt warming to Nancy's confidence and genuine desire to help - bless 'em both - as usual!

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