Amy - Part Two
The CBB -> Ste Therese's House
#1:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:14 pm

With thanks to Lesley! Wink

“I-I didn’t know,” was all Amy could find to say.
“No, I know,” Nell smiled at her. “Come and sit down for a moment and I’ll tell you about it.”
“You don’t have to,” Amy said hurriedly.
“No but I want to. It doesn’t hurt me to talk about it anymore Amy and if my experience can help someone else then it would be selfish of me to keep it to myself, do you understand?”
“I-I think so,” Amy murmured. “O-only I w-wasn’t meaning for you to tell me,” she added confusedly.
“My dear girl, I know that! Amy, stop worrying! I haven’t the least intention of telling you anything if I don’t feel comfortable about!”
“I-I’m sorry. I-it’s just that I-I get upset when I-I think about Daddy a-and – ,“ Amy ran down suddenly but Miss Wilson reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.
“It hasn’t been a month since you got your news, Amy,” she said gently. “I’ve had many years to get used to it and as I said before, it doesn’t hurt me or upset me anymore. If it did, then I wouldn’t be telling you. I was twenty two and it was a very cold and damp winter. There were lots of coughs and colds about but more seriously, there was also influenza. My sister Cherry was the first to get it. She was never very strong, quite the opposite in fact and she would generally catch whatever it was going. We all came down with it within a few days of each other and my mother, even though she was ill herself, insisted on nursing Cherry, who had it the worst of all of us. She did her best, we all did, and so did the doctor but we couldn’t save her and she died about a month after she had come down with it. My mother never really got better because she was nursing Cherry when she was ill herself and she died six weeks later. That just left myself and my father and we became very close. We grieved together and helped each other when we were feeling down; we had both recovered from our illness and I busied myself in my studies and in looking after him so I never really had time to think about my losses. But the illness and the loss of half of his family had weakened my father. His chest had been left very weak by the illness and when he developed a chest infection he was unable to throw it off. It developed into pneumonia and six months after the death of my sister, he died as well – why Amy!” she stopped there for the girl had tears pouring down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry; it’s just so sad!” Amy sobbed and Miss Wilson put her arm round her.
“It isn’t really, you know,” the Head said thoughtfully. “You see, my father was left feeling lost and alone when my mother died and he could never understand why his daughter should have died before him. He was comforted by the thought that he still had me but he knew that I had a life to lead. He knew that eventually, even if I were not to realise it myself, he would have to let me go – out into the world to earn my own living and set out a life for myself and that saddened him and frightened him because he didn’t want to be alone. If he had stayed alive, neither of us would have been happy – I would have felt very guilty about setting out on my own adventure, even if he had pushed me into it and he would have been left feeling very alone and sad because he had no one to keep him company when he grew old and he would never have heard of me giving up on whatever it was I was doing to help him. God knew what He was doing when He called my father to him; He knew that I was young and resilient enough to make my own way in the world and that I had friends that would help me through and He was right. But Amy, I was very silly and very stubborn and for sometime I refused to talk about how I was feeling. I went to visit friends and pretended I had accepted what had happened and was ready to move on with my life when I wasn’t. I didn’t want to say how much I was missing them because I was worried people may not understand and that if I once admitted I was missing them, I could never again simply pretend that my life was fine. I was wrong. I had some good friends who recognised that I carried on my pretence, I would end up ill. They made me cry and admit my feelings and I felt much better for it. I still missed them but I didn’t have to pretend I was coping because I found I was. I had cried out my bitterness and I was able to see things much more clearly. Gradually, my loss became a part of my life – before it had been danger of taking it over – I learned to live with it and not let it affect my everyday life. I prayed for comfort, for help and guidance and received it both from Him and from those around me.”

 

#2:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:25 pm

Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad That was so lovely of Nell. I remember one of the Christmas annuals having a story in it about Miss Wilson, and that was almost as moving. Did you get the events from that? They seem very familiar somehow and I'm sure the books don't go into such detail

 

#3:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:28 pm

Catherine, that was beautiful! Thank you!

 

#4:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:33 pm

Lovely Catherine. Crying or Very sad

 

#5:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:02 pm

Wonderful insight into Bill, and how she began to develop into the strong independant woman she is. Thank you Very Happy

 

#6:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 9:29 am

Wonderful, very moving. thank you Catherine. Lovely insight into Nell, hopefully Amy will now find it easier to relate to her.

 

#7:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:46 pm

This is really showing Nell in a good light, sympathetic and understanding.

 

#8:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 pm

No more? One word, sweetie pie. NAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

#9:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:55 am

*huggles Nell* Amy's right - it's just so sad! Such a lovely update *wanders off to find tissues*

 

#10:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 8:08 pm

Miss Wilson paused and looked down at the girl who was now leaning her head against her shoulder, still crying. “Amy, if those tears are for me, they’re wasted, I’m afraid; but if they’re for yourself then I’m sorry if I’ve upset you but either way, do you think you could postpone them until we’re back at school? I’m not fully equipped to deal with a flood at this precise moment in time!” this unexpected comment made Amy giggle and she obediently wiped her eyes, prompting a groan from Miss Wilson. “Use your handkerchief, girl! You’ll take your skin off if you do that!” The only effect this had on her pupil however was to make her laugh even more and Miss Wilson laughed herself. She gave the girl a minute or two to compose herself and then slipping a hand through her arm, drew her away from the wall on which they had perched, continuing their walk into the village. “I wonder if you know why I told you what I have?” she commented.
“You’re telling me to ask for help?” Amy ventured.
“Yes, I am,” the mistress agreed. “But I’m not just saying, don’t be afraid to ask for help, I’m saying remember that there are various sources you can go to for help and each source can give you a different sort of help. I know you’re feeling unsure about the way people have come forward to talk to you and I’m sorry to say that in some cases, the offer of friendship will not be genuine. By that I mean that the girls in question will not have thought out their reasons and it is quite possible that next term, after the long summer break, you would merely be formmates again; but there are other girls who have perhaps noticed you now because of your loss and have realised that they would like to get to know you better and whilst their interest in you may seem to be borne out of sympathy, it is actually a genuine interest. These girls will not forget you next term and will give you a friendship which will grow and strengthen with every passing day.”
“Do you mean I have to wait until next term to find out i-if anybody really wants to be my friend?” Amy asked as the mistress paused.
“Not if you’re as sensible as I think you are,” the mistress answered. “If you think carefully, Amy, you will know which girls are likely to be genuinely interested in you and really want to get to know you and which girls have your loss fresh in their minds and are simply sorry for you and once they’ve had time to forget, will no longer think about being your friend. Think about the girls who think before they say and do things and the girls who mean well but leap in feet first and that will give you some guide. I’m sure that even at this moment in time, you can name girls which fall into these categories.”
“Peggy?” Amy ventured, she had not forgotten Peggy’s kindness to her on her first day back.
“Which category?” Nell Wilson asked, with a smile that hid her anxiety. She knew which category she would place her brevet niece in but she wanted to see how Amy, as someone who did not know Peggy that well, thought about her.
“She means what she says,” Amy said simply. “I think, anyway,” she added as an afterthought and the Head laughed outright.
“She does,” she agreed. “Don’t spurn any offers of help from Peggy; she may not be the type of girl to stand back and see someone left out but she wouldn’t offer her time unless she really wanted to do so. The same applies to Daphne Russell and Nita Eltringham and a few more of that crowd. Now, what would you think if Hester Layng came up to you and started taking an interest?”
“She’s nice enough, I suppose but she doesn’t really think about what she says or what it means,” Amy said thoughtfully.
“Quite right! Hester is a lovely girl but she doesn’t stop to think about what she’s saying or what it means. You see, my child, you’re quite clever enough to work out who will really want to help and make a friend of you and who is simply feeling sorry for you. But Amy,” Miss Wilson’s voice held a note of warning, “don’t rush your friendships or feel tempted to demand more than you and the other person are ready for. Let them have the chance to get to know you first and don’t be disappointed if some friendships simply fade out; the ones that last will be good, strong friendships that you will learn from and that will help you time and again. And never forget that friendship is about give and take. Any friendship where you find you are doing all the giving or all the taking, isn’t a friendship. It must be two sided or it won’t do either of you any good and above all, if you don’t feel comfortable around someone, never be tempted to try to strike up a friendship with them for it will simply not work. You will never gain anything from it and neither will the other person,” she stopped there, giving her words a few minutes to sink in. “Now, I’ve lectured you enough! Quicken your pace and let us get to this coffee shop! I’m hungry!” This last was said plaintively producing yet another giggle from Amy and the Head chuckled. She had given Amy plenty to think about though and even as she mechanically responded to the everyday chatter of Miss Wilson, Amy pondered on it, only pushing it to the back of her mind when they reached the coffee shop where she was treated to a lavish tea.

 

#11:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 8:39 pm

Catherine, that was a wonderful post!

 

#12:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:30 pm

Love Nell in this! Thanks Catherine.

 

#13:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 11:42 pm

Wonderful post Catherine!!!

 

#14:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:27 am

Sighs big happy sigh Thanks Catherine, excellent advice from Miss Wilson re friendships

 

#15:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:55 am

Thanks, Catherine a wonderful post. i love Nell in this adn Amy is lovely too. Great advice re. friendships

 

#16:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 1:55 pm

Aww. And it's really good too cos now Amy knows Nell she'll feel more comfortable with going on hol with them etc! More soon please! Is fab.

 

#17:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 4:08 pm

Yes, it will definitely make the holiday something to be enjoyed, rather than an ordeal. Nell really is being nice and understanding in this, I have to admit that before I read it she would not have been the first person I would think of directing Amy to for help.

 

#18:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:07 pm

“I don’t think I could eat anymore tonight,” Amy sighed as they made their way back to School and Miss Wilson laughed.
“Well I hope the walk will give you an appetite or I shall have Matron on my tracks!” she responded. “All the same, I don’t want you bilious so if you’re really not hungry, you had better say so. However, we’ll wait and see when we get back to School.”
“Thank you,” Amy said shyly.
“You’re not thanking me for telling you to say if you’re not hungry when we reach School, are you?” Miss Wilson teased her, laughing and Amy smiled.
“It’s better than having to tell Matron,” she said decisively and Miss Wilson laughed. “I-I meant thank you for today,” Amy added.
“It’s been a pleasure,” the mistress answered earnestly. “It would be very selfish of me not to use my experience to help others,” she added but anything more she might have had to say was forgotten as they rounded a corner and a boy of about 12 came careering down the hill at top speed and unable to stop, careered into Amy, sending her flying and landing on top of her.
“I say! I’m most awfully sorry!” the boy exclaimed when Miss Wilson had hauled him up. “I hope I haven’t hurt you – too much?” this last was added as Amy struggled into a sitting position, revealing a bleeding nose and bleeding knees to him. “Here,” he held out his handkerchief – mercifully clean – to the girl
“Do you really think your mother has nothing better to do than provide you with a new handkerchief every time you ‘lose’ one?” Miss Wilson demanded scathingly. “Thank you but no! You may keep your handkerchief. I will accept your apology on behalf of my pupil but for the future, please try, if you can, to avoid doing stupid things like running down hills – it is very dangerous and next time you might do either yourself or somebody else a very serious injury! You may go now and in future, please think before you act!” The boy escaped, feeling very sorry for himself – he would have been appalled if he had but known that this was Miss Wilson at her mildest! Miss Wilson watched him go and then turned her attention to her pupil who was looking rather white, although her nose bleed had slowed to a trickle. “What a sight!” she said, laughing. “People are going to wonder what on earth I’ve done to you!”
“I’ve hurt my foot and my wrist,” Amy told her.
“Matron will have a look at you when we get back to School,” Miss Wilson promised. “I daren’t have a look now, Amy; there’s nothing I can do for you and taking your shoe and sock off will cause you more discomfort. Let me see your wrist though.” Amy held out her wrist and Miss Wilson ran her hands over it. “Sprained, I think,” she decided. “I’ll take the belt off your dress and it will do as a sling until we get back,” she suited the action to the words and Amy gave a sudden giggle, causing the Head to raise her eyebrows.
“I was just wondering what people would think if they saw you undo my belt,” Amy explained, with a giggle and Miss Wilson laughed.
“Yes; I can see they might be rather worried!” she agreed, laughing. “Well I promise you, I’ve no intention of undressing you! There! Slip your wrist into it and I’ll tie a knot in it.” Amy did as she was asked and then the Head tied a firm knot and turned her attention to getting Amy to her feet. It was done at last and the two set out on their slow journey back to Plas Howell. They were over halfway when there came the tooting of a horn and a car slowed down.
“Need a lift?” It was Jem Russell and the faces of both lit up as he stopped the car and got out. “What on earth have the pair of you been doing?” he demanded, coming to Amy’s aid.
“We haven’t been doing anything!” Miss Wilson said tartly. “A young hooligan came careering down the hill and sent Amy flying with the results you see!” The doctor only grunted by way of reply, being too busy installing Amy into the car.
“Comfortable?” he demanded at last.
“Yes, thank you,” Amy smiled up at him and he gave her a fatherly pat on the shoulder, before withdrawing and letting Miss Wilson take the front seat. Ten minutes later they were back at Plas Howell and he swung Amy up into his arms, carrying her along to the library and giving Miss Annersley a shock in the process.
“What on earth has happened?” she demanded, startled as she hastily got up to clear her sofa of books and papers. It was speedily done and whilst Miss Wilson explained the situation to her co-Head, the doctor examined the girl.
“So this is what happens when we let you come back here, is it?” he demanded, with a twinkle. “Sure you don’t want to come back with me and let Madge and me take proper care of you?”
“They are looking after me!” Amy protested.
“Doesn’t look like it to me!” he retorted with a grin. “Go on! Say you’ll come back with me – there isn’t anybody else to play chess with me!”
“There’s Madame,” Amy pointed out.
“She can’t play,” he retorted.
“Have you tried to teach her?” Amy demanded.
“Yes, many years ago!” he retorted. “She never did master it!”
“Maybe you need to teach her again – properly!”
“Are you trying to say I didn’t teach her properly the first time round?” he demanded.
“I might be,” Amy answered. “Or I might not be,” she grinned up at him.
“That’s no answer!” he said severely but Amy just giggled.
“When you’ve quite finished trying to poach our pupil, Sir James!” Miss Annersley interrupted but both Heads had been watching in deep amusement. He chuckled.
“She’s sprained her ankle and her wrist, grazed her knees and her face stands in need of a clean. Oh and any discipline or punishment you care to mete out to her would be appreciated! Such cheek, I never heard!”
“Neither have we,” Nell Wilson answered. “We’ll be having words with your wife – perhaps she’ll be able to cure you of it!” The doctor only laughed however.
“Matron should be able to see to her all right but if you two don’t mind, I’d rather she stayed where she was for the present – that walk has rather taken it out of her. I must be going but I’ll have a dekko at her in a day or two – see how she’s bearing up, since she won’t come home with me!” he sighed.
“I’m sure we have a chess set lurking somewhere,” Miss Wilson said laughing. “We’ll let the pair of you have that game when you come – if you can stay long enough, that is!”
“I think I could be persuaded,” he grinned before taking his leave of the three; Miss Wilson electing to show him to the door and then run up and find Matey.

 

#19:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:34 pm

That was lovely Catherine!!!!!

 

#20:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:38 pm

Extremely lovely, and methinks that young hooligan doesn't realise just how lucky he's been. More soon please? JackieJ

 

#21:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:38 pm

*g* oh that was lovely and funny!

 

#22:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:13 pm

Great to see a doctor coming to the rescue again. Jem was so lovely, thank you Catherine Very Happy

 

#23:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:33 pm

Love Nell at her mildest - that 12 year old doesn't know how lucky he was!!So good to see the easy relationship Amy has with Jem, and that she's developing the same with Miss Wilson.Thanks Catherine.

 

#24:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:03 pm

It's great to see Amy so relaxed with Jem, Catherine.

 

#25:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:39 am

Glad to see Amy is responding to those about her. Hope she remember's Nell's words when she needs them. Nice to the interaction between her nad Jem and Nell too.

 

#26:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:10 am

Awww! Lovely to see how Amy is settling into her position in the family. Jem is wonderful in this!

 

#27:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:53 pm

Don't all faint in shock but here's a little more for you! Shocked

Miss Annersley meanwhile, fetched a cushion and a rug for Amy and once she was sure the girl was comfortable, pulled up a chair by her.
“Have you had a good afternoon?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes thank you,” Amy said shyly. “I’m not sure that I could eat anymore though,” she added and the Head laughed.
“Has Miss Wilson been feeding you up with cakes?” she demanded, laughing. “Well, we shall make her tell Matron why you’re not very hungry when it’s time for Abendessen! Nobody wants you bilious though so if you’re not hungry, say so. Ankle sore?” she queried as Amy shifted uncomfortably.
“It’s horrible,” Amy confessed.
“Never mind! Matron will put a bandage on it and that will give it some support. There’s no need for you to move for the moment either.”
“A-am I not in the way?” Amy queried anxiously.
“Not at all!” the Head responded promptly. “You’re always welcome, Amy – unless of course we have visitors!” she added, laughing. “But in that case you’d know about, I’m sure! But it’s lovely to see you – I’ve not seen you properly since you returned. How are you finding things? Are you managing to settle into things again?”
“Y-yes. It’s just more people are talking to me and I-I didn’t think they would. I-I’m glad they are but it’s all so - ” Amy stopped, for lack of an appropriate adjective.
“Confusing?” the Head suggested, with a smile and Amy nodded.
“I-I never really minded before w-when people didn’t really talk to me that much, I mean but now, I-I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m just left to myself,” she ventured.
“Tell me something, child,” the same thought had struck Miss Annersley as it had struck Miss Wilson earlier. She took Amy’s good hand in her own and her eyes were kind and full of sympathy as she looked down at her. “Before the news of your father’s death came, were you happy here?” her voice was gentle but even so, Amy looked nervous and anxious as the question was asked. “Be honest, Amy,” the Head said gently, noting her expression. “I want you to tell me the truth – not what you think I want to hear.”
“N-no,” Amy admitted, after a moment. “I know Daddy wanted me to be safe whilst he went away and here was best as it was less likely to get bombed but I-I just used to count the days until the holidays or until he came back. W-we were never apart until he had to go,” she stopped to gulp, “go away and i-it was hard,” she continued. “O-only that’s not going to happen anymore,” she added, a sob sounding at the back of her throat. She struggled hard for a few minutes during which the Head waited patiently and silently, knowing better than to speak although her expression was full of sympathy and her eyes were very kind. Eventually, Amy managed to speak again. “Pup-please, can I stay here with you for a bit longer?” she asked timidly.
“Of course you can!” Miss Annersley agreed instantly. “Since you spent the afternoon with Miss Wilson, how would it be if you spent the evening with me? We’ll have a quiet time together until it’s time for you to go to bed.”
“W-won’t Miss Wilson mind?” Amy asked anxiously.
“Won’t I mind what?” Miss Wilson herself demanded from the doorway just then and the Head, who had been frowning slightly at the flicker of fear, almost, that had crossed Amy’s face at the mention of bed, felt Amy’s clasp on her hand tighten. She gave it a quick squeeze and then turned to her co-Head and great friend with a smile.
“Amy’s not quite feeling up to facing the others tonight and since you’ve had her to yourself for most of the afternoon, I’ve suggested she spend the evening with me,” she explained quickly. “She’s a little worried you may object, however,” she added.
“Not in the least,” Miss Wilson said cheerfully. “Amy, we – by whom I mean the entire staff, Miss Annersley, myself and Matron, included – are only too happy to do anything we can to help you so don’t be afraid to ask if there’s something you want to talk over or you want time alone or time with one of us. If you don’t tell us, we won’t know and we won’t be able to help you as much as we would like – remember that and don’t be afraid to come to us if you need us – that’s why we’re here,” she smiled at the girl. “Now, here’s Matron to see to you,” she added, standing back and letting that lady bustle forward.
“Well, Amy! So this is what happens when Miss Wilson takes you out by herself, is it?!” she demanded, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
“Ye-es,” Miss Annersley began thoughtfully. “You know, I may have to reconsider letting Miss Wilson take any girl outside of the School grounds again, Matron!”

 

#28:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:11 pm

Classic last line!!!! Lovely post Catherine! Thank you!

 

#29:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 10:41 pm

:red: Yay! More Amy! :jump: Thanks Catherine - Hilda and Nell are fantastic in this.

 

#30:  Author: Shander, Location: Canada PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:25 pm

Horray for more of this! I'm loved Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson in that last scene. :sheep: Don't ask why the smiley is there. I just felt like it. Smile

 

#31:  Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:36 am

Yay! More! Great installment, thanks Catherine.

 

#32:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:02 pm

He He He! Loved Hilda's last line - can just see Nell getting all indignant! Laughing Thanks catherine - very perceptive of Hilda, and Nell earlier, to pick up that Amy had not been happy even before her father's death.

 

#33:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:35 pm

Thanks Catharine. Hope this means the RSI is better.

 

#34:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 5:47 pm

Lovely!!! Very Happy Thank you, Catherine.

 

#35:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 7:32 pm

Thanks Catherine! So lovely to see more of this. Very Happy

 

#36:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:15 pm

Just read this all the way through and am loving it! Very Happy Thanks Catherine Especially like the portrayal of Madge & Jem. It's nice to see Jem's humane side for a change (echoing everyone else I know, but it is!) And Madge grated on me more & more as the books went on with her submissive persona. Confused It just didn't seem real considering how she was at the beginning of the series. It's lovely to see the Madge I always knew was under there somewhere!

 

#37:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 9:55 am

Thank you Catherine! Hilda and Nell are lovely and hopefully Amy can start to feel more comfortable with them now.

 

#38:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:10 am

Lovely Catherine. I'm glad to see that Amy is finding her feet with Hilda and Nell.

 

#39:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:31 am

Thank you Catherine glad to see you are well enough to add to this. Hilda and Nell are so lovely to Amy in this. It must be so hard for her to interact with them on a more personal level though.

 

#40:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:54 pm

Catherine, just caught up on this... or re-read the whole lot from the beginning and am sitting here in tears. It's so powerful and amazing.

 

#41:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:36 pm

“I think you have a point, Miss Annersley!” Matron agreed. “Perhaps it would be as well not to let her have sole charge of any pupil in the future! Certainly, I have enough on my plate without having to dose girls who have been overfed with sweets and cakes by one of their headmistresses!”
“Kindly stop talking rubbish!” Miss Wilson, who had been looking very indignant, recovered herself as she caught sight of the consternation on Amy’s face. “For one thing you’re worrying Amy, for another, I did not overfeed her and I most certainly was not responsible for her fall! Amy, take no notice of them, their teasing is aimed at me, not at you. Nobody’s going to dose you, I promise!” she glared at Matron as she finished and that lady chuckled most reprehensibly – a chuckle in which her co-Head joined.
“Sorry Amy,” Miss Annersley flashed an apologetic smile at the girl. “I’m afraid we were teasing Miss Wilson – we didn’t see any reason why you should be the only one to suffer! Matron has no intention of dosing you and I think we’ll trust Miss Wilson to look after you on her own again!” Amy smiled rather weakly, not really very sure how to react to the scene she had just witnessed. In fact, truth be known, she was starting to feel rather miserable again for it had reminded her of the way her father had teased her in the past and the realisation that it would never happen again hit her. The Head prepared to move out the way to let Matron have a clear field but found herself stopped as Amy’s hand suddenly tightened round her own. She gave the girl a quick glance and stayed as she was, squeezing the hand to show she understood. Miss Wilson noticed it too and slipped away for a few minutes, returning with a cup of coffee in her hand, which she set down on a table near the girl.
“Hot and sweet,” she smiled, although Miss Annersley and Matron knew she meant “warm and comforting”. She laid a comforting hand briefly on Amy’s head and then gathering up some work, slipped out.

Matron too had noticed the change in Amy’s expression but she made no comment, merely giving her full attention to Amy’s injuries. She swiftly attended to them and then she too slipped out, leaving Amy in the capable hands of the Head. Miss Annersley said nothing for a minute or two, waiting to see if Amy would say anything and when the girl didn’t, she gently released her hand from the girl’s grasp and put the cup of coffee into Amy’s hand.
“Drink your coffee,” she said gently and Amy gave her a frightened look. “It’s all right; I’m not going anywhere,” she reassured her. “Drink your coffee before it gets cold and then we’ll go into my sitting room and make ourselves comfortable in there.” She sat by Amy, saying nothing but praying inwardly that she might be able to help the girl. The coffee finished, she slipped an arm round Amy and led her through to her sitting room, drawing her down on the sofa beside her. “I’m sorry, Amy; we didn’t intend to upset you,” she said gently. “Although to be honest, I’m not entirely sure how we did,” she added with a laugh.
“D-Daddy u-used to tease me,” Amy gulped. “H-he never will again.”

 

#42:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:38 pm

Crying or Very sad Crying or Very sad Poor Amy. Glad she's starting to open up more to Hilda though.

 

#43:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:55 pm

Don't you just want to hug her? :ahhh: Thanks Catherine.

 

#44:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:09 pm

Lesley wrote:
Don't you just want to hug her? :ahhh:
Yes Sad Poor Amy. Thanks Catherine.

 

#45:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:36 am

Definately want to hug Amy, glad she's starting to feel more comfortable with Hilda and open up to her. Glad Hilda and Nell and Matey are being so sweet and understanding. Thank you Catherine.

 

#46:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 10:40 am

I'm so glad Amy is beginning to feel that she can open up to Hilda. Thanks Catherine Very Happy

 

#47:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:49 pm

Glad Amy is opening up to Hilda. That is one of the awful things about bereavement knowing that normal relationships i.e friendly teasing still goes on between others yet knowing that it will never happen again between you and the person you have lost. You do learn to cope with it but it is so hard at first,

 

#48:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:50 pm

The Head said nothing in response to this but she drew Amy closer to her and Amy leant her head against Miss Annersley’s comforting shoulder.
“I-I feel so lonely,” Amy choked on a sob.
“You mustn’t, Amy,” the Head answered gently. “There are so many people who want to help you and look after you. You have a home with Madame now –“
“But it’s not a home!” Amy began to cry. “You don’t understand! I just want someone to understand!”
“What don’t I understand?” the Head asked gently. “Tell me, Amy! What is it you want me to understand but think I don’t?”
“M-Madame’s home! I-it’s not my home! I’m not part of that family, I never will be! I’ll never belong! I don’t belong anywhere anymore! And I can’t help feeling lonely! I know that you’ll all try to help as long as I’m with you but when I’m not, when I’ve gone, you can forget all about it. You can get on with your life just like it always is but I can’t! I’ve lost my Daddy and I can’t forget that – I can’t forget that I’ll never know anymore than I do about my mother, he’ll never know what results I get in my exams, what I end up doing, whether I get married and have children – he’ll never be there for me to talk to again! He loved me and he always knew the right thing to say. He could tell me why I did things the way I did and why I acted like I did and things. He could tell me that I was just like my mother or my grandmother or my grandfather used to say something or do something! I could tell him things I couldn’t tell anyone else; I could try to do things to please him but there’s no point anymore. He could tell me stories about what I was like as a little girl, about his family and Mummy’s family. I always knew he was there to look after me and protect me but he’s not anymore. He’s not there anymore and he never will be again! I’ve got all these people that I hardly spoke to before being nice to me and trying to help but none of them really understand and one day soon they’re going to get bored and fed up and stop wanting to talk to me because I’m no fun and won’t join in with things. They can go to sleep at night knowing that it’s not their problem and that everything’s the same as it always was for them. I’m so scared! I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, I just know it will never be the same again! I don’t like feeling like this but I don’t want to be happy because that would mean I didn’t care about him anymore and didn’t mind that he was dead and I do! I do! It’s not fair! I want my Daddy back! I want the only person who loved me and understood me to come back! I want my Daddy!” Amy broke down in the Head’s arms and that lady, despite Amy’s fourteen years, gently pulled her onto her knee and cuddled her as she would a miserable Junior.

She guessed it was shock more than anything that had made Amy open up to her like this but whatever it was, she was glad. She liked to be able to help her pupils and understand them but Amy was one girl, as she had realised over the past few weeks, she hardly knew. She was not surprised by Amy’s words, she knew from bitter experience that it took time for the hurt to fade, it took time to realise the extent of the support being offered and it took courage to take advantage of it. Amy was essentially a very shy girl and she realised the girl had been bottling up her real feelings for a while – putting a brave face on it – because she was unsure of herself and of the reaction she would receive. The shock her fall had given her, together with the kindness and understanding she had been shown, had broken down the barrier and all her real feelings had come tumbling out.

Many of Amy’s words had been said in anger but the Head, both from her own personal experience of grief, and her knowledge of girls, knew the anger wasn’t aimed at herself and understood. She couldn’t help but curse the war that had brought this about and couldn’t help but wish it had been somebody other than Amy – somebody who had a family around her and could share the grief together. She did not, having said that, resent the demands being placed upon her through having a grieving girl under her care and she was determined to do all she could to help Amy through it. Indeed, it was not Amy’s obvious grief and hurt at the loss of her father that was concerning her most, it was the fact that prior to the news of her father’s death, Amy had not been happy at the school and was relatively friendless. The loneliness, the hurt, the fear of the future – that would all ease in time but the misery the girl felt would not ease until she could find some happiness in her everyday life and if Amy wasn’t happy at the Chalet School then it did not look likely that her misery would dissipate even a little and that was good for no one. The last thing the Head wanted was to see the girl become bitter and wrapped up in herself through a misery, the extent of which she could not communicate. At the present moment, it was more important to do what she could to comfort and soothe the girl and show her she understood but she fully intended to get to the bottom of the reason for Amy’s unhappiness at the School and do what she could to sort it out.

 

#49:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:10 pm

Poor Amy. Hope that letting it all out helps a little.

 

#50:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:29 pm

Thank you Catherine. Glad Amy has opened up, and hopefully things can start to get better now.

 

#51:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:53 pm

Crying or Very sad poor Amy. And lovely Hilda Very Happy

 

#52:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:57 pm

Poor, poor Amy Crying or Very sad Catherine, I am seriously impressed with the amount of drabbles that you're working on! Thank you Very Happy

 

#53:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:56 am

Poor Amy, lovely Hilda. Thank you Catherine.

 

#54:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:39 pm

:ahhh: Amy. :worthy: Hilda. Thank you Catherine. Laughing

 

#55:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:49 pm

Thank you Catherine, That was a lovely part. poor Hilda and the other certainly have their work cut out here.

 

#56:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:48 pm

It's good to see this being explored in depth. In 'Gay', for example, Jacynth was expected to understand that the CS would take care of her, and then get on with her life, so it's good to see an exploration of the grieving process.

 

#57:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:55 pm

Amy cried until she could cry no more and the Head made no attempt to stop her, knowing she needed the relief. Eventually, the sobs died away and Amy lay quiet and exhausted in the Head’s arms, with the Head’s handkerchief screwed up in her hand. She said nothing but she snuggled closer to the Head, who smiled and tightened her hold on the girl, saying nothing in her turn but letting the peaceful silence soothe the girl. After a while, she glanced down to see the girl struggling to keep her eyes open and smiled gently at her.
“Would you like to go to bed?” she asked gently.
“N-no,” a look of fear came into Amy’s eyes and she stiffened. “Please, not bed!” she begged. “U-unless you want me to go?” she added.
“No darling,” the Head said tenderly. “I’m quite happy for you to stay with me, that hasn’t not changed. You’re looking very much like you’re about to fall asleep and I thought you would be more comfortable in bed, that’s all.”
“I-I don’t like going to bed,” Amy whispered, still looking like she was about to fall asleep.
“Why not?” the Head asked gently.
“The dark frightens me,” Amy whispered. “I-I keep having nightmares o-or thinking I see Daddy in the dark and then I’m frightened but I’m alone!” she gave a dry sob and the Head gave her a quick hug.
“How about you lie down on my sofa and have a nap?” she suggested. “I’ll fetch some work and do it in here whilst you’re asleep. By the time you wake again, I expect Abendessen will be ready. We’ll have it in here and then I’ll see if I can’t do something to help you. No, darling, don’t apologise. It’s part of my job and I also want to be able to do all I can to help you. I don’t like seeing anybody as unhappy as you are and I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to help you. If there’s anything you want, you must ask me. Please don’t be frightened or worried about coming to myself or Miss Wilson if you want us. We won’t mind.”
“I don’t want to be a nuisance to you all,” Amy murmured sleepily.
“You’ll be nothing of the sort. Now, let me help you lie down and then you can sleep for a while. I’ll wake you when Abendessen is ready but I’ll be here so don’t be frightened.”
“Promise?” Amy asked, as a little girl might.
“I promise,” Miss Annersley smiled. She kissed one of the tear wet cheeks and then helped Amy off her knee and lay her down on the sofa, fetching a cushion for her head and throwing a light rug over her. She stayed kneeling by the girl, stroking her hair until she was sleeping peacefully and then slipped back into her study to get some letters. She then settled herself in an armchair, drew up a table and set to work, keeping half an eye on the sleeping girl opposite her. Presently however, she gave up on the letters and sat back in her chair, ruminating on how best to help the girl.

 

#58:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:58 pm

That was lovely, Catherine. It's good to see Hilda so closely involved in helping a very young girl.

 

#59:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:12 pm

Thank you Catherine. Amy does come across as very young doesn't she? I feel so sorry for her. Crying or Very sad

 

#60:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:50 pm

*sniffs* Poor Amy, I'm glad she's at the Chalet School so she can have Hilda looking after her. She does it so well. I hope Amy can be helped soon before she heads for an illness or something.

 

#61:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:02 pm

Poor Amy. I'm glad Hilda knows exactly what she's going through and can help her. *crying again... * This is the third drabble tonight!

 

#62:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2004 2:03 pm

Thanks Catherine I'm so glad Amy has Hilda to look after her she is so wonderfully caring.

 

#63:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 2:54 pm

Wonderful post Catherine, so glad the Hilda is there for her, hope she can find a way out of this.

 

#64:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:21 pm

Lovely Hilda.*Also wanting to huggle Amy*That was lovely though, thank you CatherineJackieJ

 

#65:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:46 pm

Thanks Catherine. Kiss Love Hilda in this! (Now that really surprised you didn't it! Wink )

 

#66:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:45 pm

*joining in with the cooing and awwing* That wa slovely!

 

#67:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:32 pm

Thanks Catherine. Hilda is so lovely to Amy.

 

#68:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:34 pm

Hooray for Hilda! Thank you Catherine.

 

#69:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 6:52 pm

Just found this lurking on page 3 and thought it could do with a nudge... Wink Liz

 

#70:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:26 pm

Sorry for the length of time between posts - RL as most of you know, kicked in with a vengeance about 3 wks ago but I'm no longer in need of a park bench and piece of cardboard, as kindly suggested by my father!! Rolling Eyes Thanks for your patience. Very Happy

Her thoughts were interrupted a while later by Amy, waking quite suddenly and obviously from a nightmare for her eyes and general expression registered panic, although there had been no muttering or tossing and turning. She hastily crossed over to her and sitting down by her, took her in her arms, cuddling her and soothing her until the shaking had stopped and Amy’s grasp on her had relaxed. Looking down, she saw the girl had fallen asleep again and gently lay her down. This time, Amy slept peacefully until the Head woke her for Abendessen but it was clear she didn’t remember her nightmare and the Head made no effort to press her on it. Instead, she kept the chatter fairly light whilst they were eating, ensuring Amy made a decent meal and then, when the dishes had been cleared away and they had both finished sipping their coffee – the Head had organised coffee for Amy as well, feeling it might help to strengthen the girl and comfort her – she moved over and sat beside the girl, an arm round the girl’s slim shoulders.
“Amy,” she began gently as the girl leant her now aching head against the Head’s comforting shoulder. “Do you remember what you were dreaming about? You had a nightmare and woke.”
“N-no,” a shiver ran through Amy and she shifted closer to the Head. “I-I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to,” she said shakily.
“Of course not!” the Head agreed swiftly. “But if you’re having nightmares, it helps if you can tell me about them so we can try to understand what exactly is causing them and help you. Quite often, it’s because you’re scared or worried about something and telling someone can help clear them up.”
“I-I’m at home sometimes and I’m on my own but all I can hear are voices. There are all sorts of different voices but the only person I can see is Daddy. Everyone’s saying my name and I don’t know who to speak to first and then they get cross because I’m not talking to them and start shouting. I-I think that’s when I wake up.” Amy shuddered as she said this and was grateful for the arm the Head had round her and the protectiveness of her hold.
“Well I’m no expert at the way the mind works, Amy, but that dream sounds very much to me as though all these offers of help and friendship are worrying you. You’re worried about spending time with one person in case you hurt somebody else and I think you’re also worried that people will become impatient with you and stop offering help and friendship. You said as much to me, earlier. All I can say to you is that the offers are quite genuine; yes, not all of them will result in friendship and yes, so far as some people are concerned you will fade into the background again. But there will be other people, Amy, who will offer you a friendship and some of them will be lasting friendships. Don’t be afraid to show your true feelings – you will soon find out who is prepared to offer you a friendship and who is prepared to offer sympathy and sympathy alone. But remember, when you wake up from these nightmares, they are just dreams – nasty ones but dreams all the same and they can’t harm you. However, I have a suggestion for you. There is a spare bedroom on the same corridor as my room. How would it be if you spent the next day or two in my quarters and sleep in there at night? I’ll be on hand to hear you and come to you if you have nightmares or want me for anything.”
“B-but that means I’ll wake you up,” Amy stammered. “And what about the other girls?”
“I won’t mind. It won’t do me any harm,” the Head smiled. “And if it helps you in the long run, it will be worth it! As for the others, we’ll tell them you’re having nightmares and Matron has put you in San for a few days. They won’t ask any questions,” the Head answered promptly. “How about it?”
“Y-yes please,” Amy said gratefully.
“Good! That’s settled then!”

Amy occupied the small bedroom near the Head’s for the remainder of the term and many was the occasion on which one or other of the Heads, going up to check on her and finding the girl either crying herself to sleep or in the throes of a nightmare, would pull up a chair by the bed and stay there, soothing her, until she was sleeping peacefully once more. At first, Amy had tried to hide it from them but she was no match for the anxious Heads who gently persuaded her that the best thing she could do for herself was to tell them or show them when she needed help. Apart from that, Amy found that their company did actually help her and realised it was futile to try to put on a brave face and not get the help and comfort she so badly wanted. Madge and Jem, having taken on the roles of legal guardians to her, were informed about the nightmares but Jem refused to make up a tonic for her, saying it would only hide the symptoms, not help them. Both spent time with her but although Amy was grateful for their comforting presence and the time they took to help her and talk to her and although she enjoyed Jem challenging her and being beaten at a game of Chess, she couldn’t quite help the feeling that they were little more than strangers to her. She had always been a shy, reserved girl and although in her grief, the barriers were let down quite a fair way, she still found it hard to talk about her innermost feelings. The doctor and his wife realised this and did not press her to talk, instead they kept the talk to a friendly level, hoping to build Amy’s trust and confidence in them. Amy was helped by their visits and by the knowledge that she had a home with them but it was the result of a discussion between Madge, Jem and the two Heads that proved her best help.
“I’m worried about her, Hilda,” Madge said anxiously, after an hour’s visit in which Amy had proved quiet and reserved, having to struggle to contain herself if her father was mentioned. “She doesn’t seem to be coping at all and she won’t open up to us.”
“I don’t think you can expect her to,” Hilda said thoughtfully. “She only had a year with us before our accident so I’ve not seen her until this term but she was then and is now, a very quiet, shy and reserved girl. To her, you and Jem and indeed, Nell and myself are little more than strangers. Obviously, she knows us a little more than she does you and Jem but she’s never come up against either of us or had any individual dealings with us before now. It’s been a huge shock to her and she’s not just struggling with the loss of her father but with the loss of a way of life that was familiar to her and made her feel safe and happy.”
“Are you saying she feels neither of those things here?” Jem asked.
“Yes,” Nell answered. “The day I took her out, she told me that she had never really been happy here and I know she’s told Hilda the same. For years, she, as far as I gather, had lived in a village near Oxford, where everybody knew her and she went to the local school where she had some very close friends. Then, this wretched war broke out, her father was told he would have to sign up and she was uprooted from that life to somewhere where her father knew she would be safe and cared for even during the holidays – for as you know, we send out a letter with the prospectus saying that if circumstances make it necessary, we can keep the children during the holidays. She was ten years old and would have been leaving her school in the summer of 1940 anyway so it made sense although in the normal scheme of things, she would quite likely have gone on to the nearest High School with her friends. He arranged for her to spend the holidays with Louisa and Charlotte, the twin girls who lived next door and had been her best friends since babyhood but still, she was spending the majority of the year in a place where she knew nobody and being shy and more miserable than anybody realised, she didn’t make friends with people and although she wasn’t left out or ignored, she was unhappy about this but too scared and shy to do anything about it. It’s a situation that has continued until the present day so to expect her to open up to people she’s had little or nothing to do with, is rather much.”
“And the lack of a happy life here means she does not have the happy foundations or thoughts that others have,” Hilda added gently. “She lived for the day she would go back home and see her father again – indeed the day she would go home and stay at home but now that has been cruelly taken away from her and she doesn’t know how to look forward or even to what. The best we can do for her at the moment is to be patient, kind and gentle; to show her we understand and are prepared to listen if/when she chooses to talk and that she is not and need never be alone. Don’t look so distressed Madge, she will improve but slowly.”
“Actually, I’ve had an idea,” Nell remarked. “I think we can be safe to assume that the parents/guardians of these twins will have heard the news by now. What is wrong with contacting them, explaining how unhappy Amy is and asking if the twins could come and stay for a few days? As yet, I don’t think Amy is ready to go home and face what awaits her there – not only a home without her father but the sympathies of the village but familiar faces may help her and she must be wondering if she will be able to continue to see them. It’s rather a pity they are not at school here, too,” she added thoughtfully.
“You’re not suggesting we recommend it, surely?” Jem demanded. “I agree it’s a pity but we can hardly be seen to drum up pupils like that!”
“No of course not! I was merely expressing a thought,” Nell answered quickly. “It’s out of the question to suggest or recommend it.”
“We could however, sit down with their parents and work out a way in which the three of them could see each other on a regular basis,” the Head remarked. “Your own nieces and daughter go home for weekends quite regularly, Madge, would it not be possible to arrange for Amy, Louisa and Charlotte to spend weekends and holidays together? Perhaps that, together with the support and friendship various of her own form are offering will help her to come to terms with and accept her father’s death?”


ETA - I forgot to add that pim or whichever name she is currently going by, Confused, has adopted Amy!

Last edited by catherine on Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#71:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:41 pm

Awwww! Poor Amy!!! Hope the Heads can arrange for her to see the twins!

 

#72:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:26 pm

Thank you Catherine! Very Happy V glad RL is being nicer now!

 

#73:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:37 pm

Lovely post - especially so because it is realistic - that the CS could not always help, and sometimes people were unhappy. You've made everyone seem far more life like Catherine - because they are not perfect.

 

#74:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:42 pm

I hope the twins can help Amy come to terms with her loss. Glad to see this back, Catherine!

 

#75:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 12:57 am

Trevor, Catherine... ) Thanks for more story *happy*

 

#76:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 7:56 pm

After a little more discussion, it was decided that Hilda, as Amy’s Headmistress, would contact the Jennings’ and lay the facts before them. Alison Jennings answered the phone and was delighted to hear from the Head. She had heard the news but, despite her grief and real concern for the girl who was like another daughter to her, she had been unsure about contacting the school.
“How is she, Miss Annersley?” she asked anxiously. “She must be devastated. They were all in all to each other!”
“She’s not finding it easy,” the Head answered cautiously. “She’s been very upset and is having trouble coming to terms with it. I believe she’s close friends with your daughters? Louisa and Charlotte, I think she said.”
“They’re like sisters,” Alison confirmed. “They would really like to see her – we all would, if it would be at all possible for her to come for the weekend at some point.”
“You would all be very welcome here, that is the main reason I was ringing,” the Head replied. “You see, we feel that it is rather soon for Amy to be returning to home surroundings; she’s not quite ready for the reminders that it may stir up. We do however feel that it would do her a lot of good to see Louisa and Charlotte again.”
“We’d be delighted,” Alison Jennings responded warmly. “When would be best?” It was arranged that they should visit Amy the following weekend and both parties ended the phone call with a feeling of satisfaction. Miss Annersley decided against warning Amy, feeling that if the girl was taken off guard, her true feelings would be revealed and there would be no chance for her to hide her feelings. Of course, in all of this, she was forgetting that the Jennings’ had known Amy since babyhood and were more than capable of seeing through any pretence she might put up.

 

#77:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:12 pm

Thanks Catherine, poor little Amy! Crying or Very sad

 

#78:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:14 pm

Yay! Amy is back. Thanks Catherine - glad you're able to post some more. Liz

 

#79:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 2:20 am

Thanks Catherine, glad to see more of Amy, poor little kid. I hope that seeing the twins will help her. I'm quite flabbergasted that Jem refused to give her a dose - but applaud his sense.

 

#80:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:52 am

Thank you Catherine its great to see Amy back, I hope the twins will be able to help her.

 

#81:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:15 am

Glad they're coming to see her - hope they can help. Thanks Catherine Very Happy

 

#82:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:48 am

Thank you Catherine! Glad to see Amy back and hope the twins will be able to help!

 

#83:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:20 am

Thank you lots and lots Cathwrinkles.

 

#84:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 10:44 pm

Thank you Catherine for more story. Nice to hear Amy has some friends from home, hope they are able to help her. Glad you are not going to be reduced to the park bench!

 

#85:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:12 pm

Before the weekend’s visit however, Amy received another visit, and from someone almost as unexpected as the Jennings family. She was sitting up in the small room Gwensi had given to her, staring dreamily out the window when there was a timid sounding knock at the door. In answer to her surprised and almost as timid ‘Come In’, a chestnut head was poked round the door and Amy smiled at small Sybil Russell.
“Please may I come in?” she asked, with a shyness unusual to her.
“Of course,” Amy agreed and Sybil entered fully, shutting the door behind her and standing against it. “Did someone want me for something?” Amy asked anxiously.
“I-I did,” Sybil stammered, suddenly aware that she was a Junior and Amy a Senior and not one she’d had anything to do with. “I-I wanted to see you.”
“Me? Why?” Amy sounded surprised.
“Because Mummy said you’re coming to live with us.”
“I won’t if you don’t want me to,” Amy said quickly. “I’m sure Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson would let me stay here in the holidays.”
“That would be boring,” Sybil decided. “I do want you to, I just wanted to see you and talk to you cos I don’t know you. Is that OK?”
“It’s fine,” Amy smiled. “I’m not really very interesting though.”
“I don’t think that,” Sybil wriggled down onto the window seat beside Amy. “Brr! It’s draughty round here!” she exclaimed.
“Is it? I hadn’t really noticed,” Amy said apologetically.
“I think maybe we’d better not sit here or we might get colds and then Matey won’t be very pleased,” Sybil remarked tentatively. She shivered and Amy, awakened to the cold now and anxious about the younger girl, although she couldn’t care in the slightest about herself, got up.
“Wrap the duvet round you, if you want,” she said, beginning to pick up the duvet.
“Can’t we share it?” Sybil suggested. “It’s big enough and you were sitting there longer than I was!”
“If you want,” Amy agreed, contriving to wrap the duvet around them both as they settled themselves on the bed, although Sybil declared that they would have to keep an ear out for Matey in case she should come in and find them sitting on the bed. “What do you want to know?” she asked when the pair were settled and most reprehensibly munching biscuits that Sybil had snaffled at Kaffee und Kuchen.
“Anything really,” Sybil considered. “I think if you’re going to be my sister then I should know what you like and don’t like and things.”
“Well if I tell you about me, you’ll have to tell me about you,” Amy cautioned. “I promise I’ll not boss you about though,” she added shyly and Sybil giggled.
“Is that a promise forever?” she demanded and Amy suddenly swallowed hard, turning away to blink back the tears for Sybil’s words had jolted her into the sudden realisation that her home with the Russells would be forever – or at least for the foreseeable future. “Amy?” Sybil’s hand reached out from underneath the duvet to grasp the elder girl’s. “I didn’t mean to make you upset. What did I say?” she asked in anxious bewilderment.
“I-it’s j-just y-you said forever and –,” Amy stopped to swallow hard and Sybil’s chestnut head came to rest on her shoulder, although the younger girl said nothing. “It is forever,” Amy whispered. “I-I’m never going to live at home again.”
“But you have a different home now, a new home – with us,” Sybil said simply. “I know your Daddy won’t be there but you’ll have a nice room – Mummy and Daddy will probably let you decorate it and you’ll have all of us.”
“I know but you’re not Daddy,” Amy spoke without thinking but Sybil wasn’t offended or upset by it. She simply squeezed Amy’s hand and said nothing for a few minutes, giving Amy a chance to control herself.
“What was it like being the only one?” Sybil asked curiously. “I’ve always had David and then Josette came along before I could really be old enough to remember it just being us two.”
“It was nice,” Amy said wistfully. “I would come home from school, do my homework and then cook our supper. We’d eat in the kitchen, in the winter and in the summer, we’d eat outside. Sometimes, in the winter, we’d sit by the fire and he’d tell me about before he and Mummy were married and about when they were together before I was born. We’d look at photo albums, he’d tell me who people were and things and other times, he’d look over my homework and hear my repetition or we’d play chess or something. In the summer, I’d help him to garden and we’d play board games outside or just sit with books. Sometimes, I used to wish I had a brother or sister, especially if I’d done something naughty as there would be someone else to take the attention away from me but most of the time, I loved it. I had Louisa and Charlotte as well.”
“Who are they?” Sybil interrupted.
“They’re my best friends; at least they were. I don’t suppose I’ll ever see them again now,” Amy answered sadly.
“Of course you will!” Sybil refuted. “There’s lots of room at home and if you ask Mummy and Daddy, they will let you have friends to stay. Peg and Bride always did. We’ll ask Mummy and then they can come and stay for a bit in the hols and you’ll be able to go and stay with them. Do they know about your Daddy?”
“No – at least, I don’t know,” Amy said doubtfully. “I’ve not written to anybody really since I found out.”
“Maybe you should. They would want to know cos they’re your friends and they might be able to make you feel happier,” Sybil suggested. “Couldn’t they come here to school?”
“I-I don’t think they could afford it,” Amy said, after a moment. “I wish they could though,” she added wistfully. “I miss them so much.”
“Well I think you should write and ask them. There are all sorts of scholarships and things that they could try for an’ then they would be able to afford it. Or aren’t they clever?”
“They are; they always used to get better marks than I did,” Amy admitted.
“Well then I think you should write an’ ask them. Even if they don’t come, at least you’ll have asked an’ you never know, they might come an’ that would be good for you! But anyway, you should definitely ask them to come and visit in the hols. Ask Mummy next time you see her – she’s sure to say yes.”
“All right,” Amy agreed, although she knew inwardly she would be too shy to do any such thing.

 

#86:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:18 pm

Awwww, I love Sybil in this! Thank you Catherine Very Happy

 

#87:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:47 pm

Thanks Catherine - and yay for Sybs! She's so cute!

 

#88:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:31 pm

Good for Sybil - and nice to know that it won't just rely on Amy asking Madge - that her friends are already coming. Thanks Catherine. Laughing

 

#89:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:43 pm

In view of this, it was rather a good thing that matters were to be taken out of her hands so completely, although she made no mention of her fear that she would never see the twins again, when she spoke to the Head later that evening. She had taken herself to bed quietly and at an early hour, not participating in the activities of the others and Miss Annersley had met her as she was walking along the corridor. Amy looked up at her as the Head paused and the misery in the girl’s face made the Head simply take Amy’s hand and lead her into the study, sitting down beside her on the sofa and holding her close whilst she cried.
“I’m sorry; I’m so sorry,” Amy half sobbed. “I don’t mean to keep doing this.”
“I know that and you’ve nothing to be sorry about,” the Head answered gently. “You’re grieving Amy and I expect you to be upset. Was there something in particular that triggered it?”
“I don’t know. Sybil came to see me; s-she wanted to know about me and things and I promised not to boss her about and she said something about did I promise forever and I suddenly realised it was forever,” Amy explained shakily. “I-I can’t explain i-it just was a shock.”
“I can see that,” the Head agreed. “Perhaps you hadn’t quite taken in what your father’s death means,” she added gently.
“E-everything’s changing a-and I don’t like it,” Amy whispered.
“No; nobody likes change,” the Head agreed. “You will get used to it all in time, Amy. I don’t say you’ll like it any better but you will get used to it.”
“D-Daddy said that about coming here.”
“And you are used to it now, aren’t you? You may not like it but you are used to it?” the Head glanced down at Amy.
“I’m sorry,” Amy mumbled again. “I do want to be happy here – I-I’m not trying to make myself unhappy.”
“I know that, you silly child!” Miss Annersley scolded gently. “But Amy, remember you don’t have to hide yourself away, which I have a feeling you might well have done if I had not met you.”
“I-I don’t want to get in the way,” Amy mumbled.
“And you won’t,” the Head promised. “As a general rule, I’m not doing anything other than paperwork in the evening or having a coffee with Miss Wilson. If you want one of us, just knock on the door or catch us before Abendessen. You’ll know if I’m entertaining the rest of the staff – I’ll warn you first. Even so, you and your needs are important so don’t feel you have to hide away from us if you want company. Girls who hide their feelings, don’t generally get the help they need until it’s too late!” she added, with a twinkling smile. “Now, you’re tired so run along and get ready for bed. I’ll come and sit with you in a few minutes.” Over the past few nights, one or other of the Heads had taken to sitting and doing some paperwork or reading a book until Amy was asleep since it was one way of preventing her from crying herself to sleep – and the Heads had found that if she fell into sleep peacefully, she was less likely to be disturbed by bad dreams.

 

#90:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:49 pm

*sniffles* Pim... you're not fed up of Amy yet are you? 'cause I'd actually quite like to adopt her if that's okay by you... Thank you Catherine Smile

 

#91:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 10:50 pm

Just want to hug poor Amy until all her problems are solved. Crying or Very sad Really worried about whether she will be able to adapt, even with the Heads and madge on the case.

 

#92:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:08 pm

Sybil was so sweet in that. Thanks Catherine Liz *queuing up to hug Amy*

 

#93:  Author: Nicci, Location: UK PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:11 pm

Finally caught up with this. I'd forgotten what a lovely Jem you write Catherine. And as for Hilda and Nell - there was line, a couple of posts back, when Hilda calls Amy 'darling' and it brought tears to my eyes - suddenly Hilda became so nuturing and maternal to me. It made her seem really real (if you understand). Amy herself is wonderful - and I'm interested to know what will happen to her. Also, her relationship with her father reminds me of that of Emily and her father in Emily of New Moon. Very sweet. *g* at Ellie's comment about Jem not wanting to make up a tonic!! Thank you Catherine. Looking forward to more of this. oh yes, and between this and RCS, I'm falling for Nell Wilson on a big way!!

 

#94:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:00 am

Gem wrote:
Pim... you're not fed up of Amy yet are you? 'cause I'd actually quite like to adopt her if that's okay by you...
No, I'm not Gembert! But you may come and visit... Thank you Cathwrinkles!

 

#95:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:14 pm

Thank you Catherine!!! Amy is so sweet, and your Sybil is adorable!!!

 

#96:  Author: Lisa_T as G,  PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:32 pm

*sniffs* Aww. I've just caught up with this Catherine and tis lovely!

 

#97:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:33 am

Agreeing with Vikki and Lisa, this is lovely and Sybs is soo cute!

 

#98:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:58 am

Thank you Cathrine, Sybil is lovely and I just want to hug Amy soooooooooooooo much.

 

#99:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:37 pm

Lovely updates Catherine. How cute is Sybil? Nice to see her written like this. thanks

 

#100:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:09 pm

So glad this is back Catherine. Thank you. Love this side of Sybil as well. I hope Amy can learn to be comfortable with some of her friends as well as the heads.

 

#101:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2004 4:18 pm

Thanks Catherine this is lovely, I am glad I managed to catch up with it. Poor little Amy it is going to be very difficult for her. Hope her friends and Sybil help her.

 

#102:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 10:39 pm

Amy is languishing and feeling unloved more please.......

 

#103:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:38 pm

*joins frances in pleas for more*

 

#104:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:17 pm

I loved Sybs in that last post, so sweet, just the sort of thing you can see a younger girl doing. *Hugs Amy, and Sybs for good measure* JackieJ

 

#105:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:16 pm

It's all very well pleading for more but it's rather pointless when I have limited Internet Access! Have come all the way over to my parents just to post this - anything to keep duh brain happy! Wink Am posting in bits to make it easier to read. Hope you all had a good Xmas and New Year! Hope to be back online by the end of the month! But don't hold your collective breath!

The weekend arrived, bringing with it Amy’s visitors and the transformation in Amy, when she recognised the two girls running up the drive from her vantage point on the top of the steps, was amazing. Miss Annersley had told her she was expecting visitors and asked if Amy would wait at the top of the steps for them and show them to the study when they arrived. Amy had been surprised at the request and more than a little anxious about it but eager to show how much she appreciated the Head’s kindness towards her, she had agreed. Had she but known it, Miss Annersley was not in her study but standing within earshot, just out of sight of the girl, ready to intervene in case it might prove too much for her. She need not have worried however for as the twins recognised the figure standing on the steps as Amy and came tearing up the drive, Amy was galvanised into action. Gone was the shy, quiet, grief stricken girl they had come to know and in her place was a happy, agile school girl, who tore down the steps and threw herself at the twins who grabbed her. They were nothing more than a mass of arms and legs and the Head, laughing, moved out of her hiding place to greet the twins’ parents who were also laughing.
“Some things never change!” Alison Jennings said laughing as she shook the outstretched hand of the Head. “I’m afraid we’ll get no sense out of them for a while yet!”
“In that case, we shall leave them to it!” the Head rejoined laughing, turning from greeting Charles Jennings. “If you would care to adjourn to my sitting room, I have elevenses awaiting us. I’m sure the girls will join us when they’ve recovered themselves. Your sons aren’t with you?”
“No. They are with friends. Much as they like Amy, the idea of visiting a girls’ school was not appealing!” Alison Jennings replied, laughing and the Head laughed as well.
“I should imagine not!” she laughed.
“They’d only squabble with the girls if they were here,” Charles Jennings put in. “We want Amy to have them to herself as far as possible whilst we are here and their attention would be diverted from her if they were here.”
“They’re not as bad as all that,” his wife protested. “But please, tell us, how is Amy? She’s almost a member of the family – we look on her as another daughter.”
“She is finding life difficult at the moment,” the Head answered carefully. “She is trying hard but I’m afraid she misses her father very much. And here we are.”

Whilst the Head was greeting the twins’ parents and then relating Amy’s struggles to cope with the loss of her father, the three girls had got over their first raptures and releasing each other, the twins eyed Amy critically.
“What on earth have you been doing to yourself?” Louisa demanded.
“You look a mess!” Charlotte added severely.
“I don’t!” Amy protested.
“You do!” the pair chorused. “Look at you! You’ve lost weight and your dress doesn’t fit anymore; you’ve bags under your eyes, your mouth is turned down at its corners, your hair’s not shining like it usually does, you’ve almost no colour in your face and you even sound fed up and tired!” Charlotte added.
“What would your father say?” Louisa remarked and the indignation on Amy’s face was replaced by a sad look. “It’s no go, Amy,” Louisa jogged her arm. “I know it’s awfully hard and miserable for you and we’re all dreadfully sorry but he died fighting for his country and the whole heroic bit is all in vain if you’re going to be sad over it all.”
“I’ve lost my father – I’ve no family left – how can I not be sad over it all?!” Amy burst out. “It’s all right for you two! You’ve still got each other, the boys and your parents!”
“And you still have us,” Charlotte reminded her. “Amy, you may not be an actual relation but you’re as much a member of the family as the rest of us! The only reason you’re not coming to live with us permanently is cos we haven’t the room! We’ve two land girls living in the only spare room and when your Dad made his will, it seemed sensible to leave you to your Heads. You spend most of the year here anyway, they are much more able to be there for you if you need help than we are because we don’t live nearby and they’re in charge of your education and your health for most of the year. When this wretched war is over, you’ll be coming to us for your hols and we’ll be seeing you in the hols before then anyway.”
“We’re not saying you’re not allowed to be upset over your Daddy dying, Amy; we’re just saying don’t make yourself ill over it,” Louisa said gently. “It must have been ever so hard for him to go away and leave you but he wanted to fight for his country – to help make a difference and he did. He knew that if he was to die he would be with your Mummy again and you would be safe. You would have us and everyone at School. Be happy for him Ames, Mummy said that he often used to say how much he missed your Mummy and now he has her.”
“He died knowing you would be safe and that he had fought for his country – if he had to die now, what better way is there?” Charlotte asked. “Think of it Amy! If he’d stayed alive, he’d have watched you grow up and eventually leave home to lead your own life. Where would that have left him? Alone! He will still see you do all of those things, you just won’t have him to turn to for advice and comfort. You’ve others in his place though and if you carry on feeling sad and sorry for yourself, you’ll end up making yourself ill, making a nuisance of yourself to everyone and he’ll look down on you, feeling guilty for leaving you and for being happy and at peace once more.”

It was brutal talking and although Amy’s instinctive reaction was to break away from the twins and run away and hide, they would not let her. They had their arms slung through hers and feeling they’d said enough for the moment, demanded to be shown round the School. They made Amy take them all the way through the gardens, right round the house – left to right, top to bottom, in and out of every room it was possible to enter, demanding a full description of activities. By the time they had finished, Amy had talked herself nearly hoarse telling them almost all there was to know about the School and the twins sighed enviously.
“You’re jolly lucky, Amy!” Louisa sighed.
“I wish we could come here,” Charlotte added wistfully.
“I do too,” Amy replied, just as wistfully.
“Well at least we’ll see you in the hols and I suppose the School we do go to isn’t as bad as all that,” Louisa said philosophically. “We ought to go and find Mummy and Daddy though – we’ve been longer than we ought to have been.”
“Where are they likely to be?” Charlotte asked.
“Study, I think. That’s where Miss Annersley told me to take you,” Amy answered.
“Lead on then, Macduff!” Louisa charged Amy and with a giggle, Amy swung to the right and led the twins through the corridors to the Head’s study. She got no answer when she tapped on the door but Miss Dene, appearing at that moment, pointed her in the direction of the sitting room.

 

#106:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:17 pm

“Here you are!” Miss Annersley looked up with a smile as the girls entered, following Amy’s shy tap on the door. “I was just about to send out a search party for you! Come along and have some coffee or it will be undrinkable soon! First though, which is Louisa and which is Charlotte?” she laughed as she spoke for the twins were identical. Neither were at all shy however and whilst Amy turned to greet their parents, they chattered eagerly with the Head.
“How are you, my darling?” Alison Jennings enveloped Amy in a tender hug and the girl clung to her, feeling the motherliness which had been missing from even the hugs of Lady Russell.
“I miss him so much,” Amy whispered.
“Of course you do! He was all you had!” Alison answered her. “Don’t fret for him too much though, darling. He wouldn’t have wanted that and he’s happy with your Mummy once more. You have your whole life ahead of you and you must make him as proud of you in death as he was in life.” She gave Amy another kiss and then released her into the arms of her husband.
“Well my Amy! When are you coming to stay with us? You’re of more use to me than those two pests put together!” he nodded towards his daughters, having sat down and pulled an unresisting Amy onto his knee.
“We’ve more sense than to skivvy for you, that’s all!” Louisa broke off her talk with the Head to retort and he chuckled.
“Skivvy? Hear that, Amy?! Your friends call hard work skivvying!” he complained. “What I’ve done to be blessed with such a lazy pair of brats, I do not know!”
“Don’t answer that, Lou!” Charlotte cried as her sister opened her mouth to retort again. “We’re on strike now!”
“I don’t suppose you would do me a trade-in, Miss Annersley?” their father twinkled. “These two for Amy?”
“Oh I’m afraid we couldn’t do without Amy,” the Head twinkled back, laughing at the indignant faces of the twins. “Has she shown you round the School girls?”
“Yes. It’s a gorgeous place!” Charlotte sighed.
“Huge though! It’s probably a good thing we’re not pupils here – I’d be forever getting lost,” Louisa added, causing the company to laugh.
“I’ll never understand how you can be so brainy at Geography and yet have no sense of direction,” her sister complained. “She’s forever getting lost, Miss Annersley. Whenever we go shopping, she always ends up standing in the middle of a street looking round blankly for us even though we were supposed to be meeting at the other side of the town!”
“Oh dear,” the Head flashed a sympathetic smile at the embarrassed Louisa. “None of us are perfect however and there are worse faults than lacking a sense of direction. I’m glad to hear you like the School – I hope you will still feel the same when you leave us tomorrow. You’re spending the rest of your weekend here and although I expect you’d like some time alone with Amy, we thought you might like to join in with our usual activities.”
“We’d love to!” Charlotte exclaimed and the Head smiled.
“There is one other thing we’d like you to do,” she added. “We’d like you to complete these,” she picked up two bundles of paper and the twins eyed her and then each other in some surprise and confusion.
“The Chalet School has vacancies for next term and we’ve decided to send you both,” Alison Jennings answered her daughters’ unspoken questions.
“B-but I didn’t think we could afford it,” Louisa stammered, turning to her mother.
“We could afford to send one of you but not both and since it wouldn’t have been fair to ask that of you, we decided to leave you where you were,” their father spoke. “You’ve both achieved as much as we feel you are likely to do at your present School and Miss Annersley has kindly offered a scholarship to one of you.”
“B-but when was all this decided?” Charlotte stammered.
“We discussed it over the phone with Miss Annersley a day or two ago and finalised matters just now,” her father answered. “Whether or not we actually send you, depends on how you feel at the end of the weekend.”
“We don’t want you to feel you have to accept the offer if it is not what you wish,” the Head spoke gently to the shocked twins. “We’d like you to look on this weekend as a taster of what is to come. I hope you will find it pleasant and enjoy yourselves and if you have any doubts or questions, I shall be happy to discuss them with you but if you feel that the School is not suited to you or that you do not wish to go to a boarding school, then you must say. Suppose you go away and talk it over with Amy and then after lunch and a short rest, you may do what you can with the papers – it’s a hot day so we’ll sit you outside in the shade. I’m sorry to ask you to work on a holiday but since you are here, it seems too good an opportunity to miss. The papers are not in the nature of an exam – they are simply to test your standard so that we may know better where to place you. I believe your parents want Amy to themselves for an hour or so this afternoon so that will tie in quite nicely. Why don’t you take them up to your room, Amy and the three of you can talk it over until the gong goes for lunch?”
“Her room? You get your own room here?” Louisa burst out and the Head laughed.
“I’m afraid not!” she replied laughing. “If you decide to join us, you’ll be in a dormitory with the other girls. There are some small room towards the top of the house that are empty and the sister of the owner suggested that Amy take one of them for somewhere to place her photographs and mementoes of her father in. She quite naturally felt that she didn’t want to be surrounded by them at the moment but we also felt she should have access to them.”
“Oh I see,” Louisa sounded a trifle disappointed and the Head smiled sympathetically.
“You’ll find sharing with nine or ten other girls quite different to sharing a room with each other,” she smiled. “We can’t quite manage to fit you into dormitories tonight but Amy is sleeping in my spare room at the moment since she’s been having difficulty sleeping and we didn’t want her to disturb the others. There is already a spare bed in there and we’ve managed to squeeze a camp bed in as well; it’ll be something of a squash I’m afraid but I’m sure you’ll manage for one night.”
“We’re used to squashing in together,” Charlotte said hastily as the Head ended. “We’ll manage just fine and Amy, if you wake us with bad dreams, you’ll be hit so don’t say you haven’t been warned!” Her wicked grin at her friend turned into a giggle that was echoed by her twin as Amy, forgetting the Head’s presence, stuck her tongue out.
“You’ll catch something unpleasant if you continue to do that,” Miss Annersley observed with a twinkle, pleased to see her pupil looking and acting more like a normal school girl. “Run away the three of you, we’ll see you later,” she added, laughing as Amy went red.

 

#107:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:18 pm

“Well! What do you know about that?!” Louisa exclaimed once they were settled in a secluded, shady part of the garden. The rest of the girls were busy at Games on the other side of the garden so the three were left to themselves. “We come here to cheer you up and end up being told we’re leaving the High and coming here next term! I don’t know whether I’m standing on my head or my tail!”
“Neither,” Amy answered her. “You’re sitting!”
“Idiot!” Louisa, sprawled along the grass, threw a handful of soil at her. “You know what I mean!”
“It’s not definite yet,” Charlotte reminded her twin as Amy, with the fear of Matron before her, hastily brushed herself down. “We still have to do those wretched tests and they may decide we’re not good enough!”
“True enough!” Louisa agreed. “I wonder why they didn’t tell us what was in the offing? They usually do.”
“I suppose they wanted to wait until they’d seen the place and met the Head in person,” Charlotte suggested. “She seems jolly decent too.”
“She does rather,” Louisa agreed and then rolled over onto her stomach and looked up at Amy. “What do you think about it all?” she demanded. “You’ve said nothing on it yet.”
“None of my business,” Amy murmured.
“Rubbish!” Charlotte retorted. “You’re practically a sister and this is your school! If you’d rather we didn’t intrude on you then say so! We’ll understand!”
“It’d be almost the best thing in the world if you could come here,” Amy answered her quietly. “Only I’d rather you came because you want to and not because you feel you ought to or because you feel sorry for me.”
“Thanks for the flowers but we’ve better things to do than spoil our fun just because we feel sorry for you,” Louisa remarked lazily and Amy grinned.
“Your manners don’t improve with age,” she remarked and Louisa chuckled.
“Not where you’re concerned they don’t!” she agreed. “I’m not about to waste precious good manners on someone who doesn’t deserve it!”
“Give up scrapping you two!” Charlotte interrupted. “Amy, we’d love to come here – you know we’ve always hated being apart from you and this sounds like it couldn’t be a better school. It’s got nothing to do with feeling sorry for you – we’re really sorry about Uncle William – he was kind and funny and generous and we’ll miss him almost as much as you will but we wouldn’t come here just because of that. We want to be there when you need us or want us but it’d be pointless if we thought we’d be unhappy here. We’ll come but because it’s what we want.”
“And now that’s settled, you can get on and tell us what it’s really like here,” Louisa informed Amy. “Since we’ve come all this way to see you, you might as well make yourself useful!”
“How rude!” Amy remarked. “Perhaps I won’t bother!”
“You will if you know what’s good for you!” Charlotte remarked whilst her twin gave a lazy chuckle. “Get on and tell us or we’ll end up having to go for lunch!” Amy knew the pair well enough to know that she’d have no peace otherwise so she gave in and told them what they wanted to know.

 

#108:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:33 pm

Thank you for making that immense effort, Catherine. Lovely postings and the jopurney to your parents' house. I'm looking forward to having you back on-line with us.

 

#109:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:49 pm

Thank you Catherine! Love the twins and hurrah that they're coming - they seem to be very good for Amy!! Very Happy *still wants to adopt Amy**sighs* Is that nickname going to stick? Cos it's not one that I particularly favour Wink

 

#110:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:02 pm

Thanks Catherine Very Happy Glad to see that the twins are helping Amy a bit.

 

#111:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:29 pm

yay!!!! thanks you so much for making such an effort to post it's very very very much appreciated!

 

#112:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:40 pm

Thanks Catherine, lovely few posts.

 

#113:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:12 pm

Thank you Catherine, lots of lovely posts and its good to see Amy with her friends and happy *beams*

 

#114:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:38 pm

Thank you Catherine!!!!! That was wonderful!!!!!!!! And the effort is hugely appreciated!

 

#115:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:27 pm

Carolyn P wrote:
(Hope the nickname doesn't stick as it is totally wrong)
Thank you Carolyn! Very Happy

 

#116:  Author: Trinka,  PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:26 pm

Wow. Catherine, this is wonderful! I especially like how Amy lights up when around her friends -- no one had noticed how lonely she'd been. Hopefully having them around will help.

 

#117:  Author: Cath, Location: Cornwall PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 12:06 am

Just caught up with this... amazing! So sad and yet it was lovely to see Amy looking happier. Smile Fantastic.... very much appreciated! Very Happy

 

#118:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:13 am

Lovely posts and we do appreciate the difficulties you went through to let us have them. I think you've touched something more than just Amy's situation there. A quiet child like Amy could well be unhappy at boarding school and, if she just seemed shy and quiet, no one would notice. Poor kid.

 

#119:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:15 pm

Lovely posts. Thank you Catherine!

 

#120:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:33 pm

Thankyou Catherine some lovely posts. Glad to see Amy being natural with her friends and their reaction to the way she was beginning to feed on her grief. Thank you for making such a massive effort to post for us. Hurry back.

 

#121:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 3:29 pm

Thanks for the amzing number of posts, I couldn't believe how much you'd written since I last looked!

 

#122:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:02 pm

So good to see Amy bouncing around with the girls and being a normal happy schoolgirl. Hope they do decide to go to the CS, cos that would probably help her a lot. Also good to see them being so bracing with her in a way which the staff and Madge haven't felt able to be.

 

#123:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:06 pm

Glad to see you've been working on this, despite the evil internet (non)providers. And VERY glad to see Amy happier. Very Happy

 

#124:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 10:42 pm

Thank you Catherine! Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

 

#125:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:23 pm

Thank you for all of those posts Catherine, they were wonderful. It's lovely to see Amy back again. JackieJ

 

#126:  Author: Nicci, Location: UK PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:02 pm

Thanks Catherine. I like Louisa - she's got good sense!

 

#127:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 11:11 pm

Thanks Catherine! (finally got round to reading the updates! Embarassed ) And, in Catherine's defence, Gem was being unaccountably dense when that nickname was coined. Well, I say 'unaccountably'. There was alcohol involved... Wink

 

#128:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:05 pm

Thanks for all the updates Catherine. I hope your internet connection is sorted soon. Liz

 

#129:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:53 am

How's your internet connection, Catherine?

 

#130:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:40 am

Sorry it's been so long!

The weekend was over almost as soon as it had begun but sad as she was to say goodbye to the twins, it left Amy a happier girl. She had got some much needed mothering on the Saturday afternoon and the gentle talk she had had with the twins’ parents helped her to begin to accept her father’s death. She realised fully for the first time that although her father might have gone, she would never be alone. She had a family in the Jennings and all the support, love and care that the School and those connected with it could offer her. For the first time since the news had come, she felt she had something to look forward to in the news that the twins would be joining her next term. And she had something else. On the Saturday evening, the three had been sitting with some of Amy’s form and Louisa, who had been quiet and thoughtful for a while, suddenly turned to her.
“Amy, you ought to do something to remember your father by,” she remarked, in a supposedly idle tone.
“What do you mean?” Amy asked, sitting up with a jolt, whilst the Chalet School crowd looked worried, thinking the mention of her father might upset the girl.
“Well you can’t have a proper funeral for him but you ought to do something for him. A memorial service or something – there are all sorts of people that’d like to say a proper goodbye to him and I should think there are quite a few that don’t know about it yet but ought to know.”
“Even better,” Charlotte added, “would be to have a place you could go to forever to remember him. Your home will be too sad and will be sold anyway as it’s far too big for just you and anyway, you’re too young to own a home. Even when you’re old enough, you’ll want your own house that you can decorate like you want. I mean normally, there’d be a grave to go to but he’s buried in France and anyway, graveyards are dismal, depressing places.”
“We should celebrate who he was and that he died a hero’s death,” Louisa said.
“I don’t know if I want to,” Amy murmured, looking upset.
“Snap out of it!” Louisa ordered brutally. “Amy, he’s dead. Nothing can change that and yes it’s sad, frightening and terribly upsetting but it’s happened. You can either spend every day in floods of tears or you can try to be happy because you know he is happy and at peace. This idea isn’t for you, it’s something you can do for him. Remember, he loved you and only ever wanted your happiness. He’d be dreadfully upset if he knew that you were so miserable when he was happy and at peace.”
“It would be a nice idea,” Peggy Bettany observed quietly. “You could show how proud of him you are – he died serving his country.”
“Absolutely!” Daphne Russell agreed. “Why don’t you talk to the Heads about it, Amy? They’d help you plan a service if that’s what you want or they might have ideas about commemorating him.”
“Commemorating who?” Gay Lambert, who had been passing, stopped as she heard this.
“Amy’s father. Louisa suggested Amy should do something to remember her father by since she can’t have a funeral,” Daphne replied. “This is Louisa by the way – and her twin Charlotte,” she waved at the pair. “They’re Amy’s friends from home and have come to visit her and they’re coming here next term.”
“Thought I didn’t recognise you!” Gay quoth, with a friendly grin at the pair. “It’s rather early to welcome you but welcome all the same,” she laughed. “As for commemorating Amy’s father, it’s definitely an idea but does Amy want to do it?” she glanced inquisitively at Amy.
“She does, she’s just being silly about it,” Louisa replied.
“I think perhaps Amy should be allowed to decide on that for herself,” Jacynth, who was with Gay, observed quietly.
“Hear, hear!” Charlotte agreed. “You go too far sometimes Louisa!”
“I like that!” Louisa objected. “You agreed with me!”
“No; I said I thought it would be nice if Amy could find a place where she could go and remember her father!” Charlotte retorted. “I didn’t tell her to snap out of it and have a funeral service for her father when she said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to do that!”
“Don’t argue, you two, please,” Amy broke in pleadingly. “I just need to time to think about it, that’s all!”
“It’s all right, Amy; we’ll not try to force you to do anything,” Peggy Bettany said quickly. “Like Gay and Jacynth said, it’s your decision and you’ve got to do what feels right. If you want to talk to us about it, we’ll do our best to help but we’ll not try to make you do anything. You hear, you people?” she looked sternly round the crowd of fifth formers and they agreed.
“Thank you,” Amy murmured. The subject was changed after that but Amy remained preoccupied.

Her preoccupation might have got her into trouble in lessons had the Chalet School staff not been an understanding one. They saw her preoccupation and were lenient with her, putting it down to the shock of her father’s death and Peggy Bettany and Daphne Russell who had placed themselves on either side of Amy, contrived to keep her from making too many silly mistakes by dint of surreptitious poking and the occasional hissed answer. Out of lessons, they did what they could to help Amy find a solution but in the end, it was Joey Maynard that came to the rescue. She had guessed that things might feel a little flat for Amy, after the excitement of having the twins with her for a weekend and so had extended an invitation for Amy to spend a day at Plas Gwyn. Much of lesson time at the moment was being given over to revision and the Heads had decided that, in view of the circumstances, it would be unfair and unkind to expect Amy to do them and do them well, so no objection was raised and Joey carried Amy off for the day.

 

#131:  Author: pim, Location: the Derbyshire wilderness PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:11 am

Thank you Catherine Kiss

 

#132:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:27 am

Yay! *happy dance* Thanks Catherine - lovely to see more of Amy. I hope spending time with Joey helps her. Liz

 

#133:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:25 pm

Thank you Catherine! Lovely to see more of Amy.

 

#134:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:23 pm

Agreed, it is lovely to see Amy back. Hope Jo's not too overwhelming for her though. JackieJ

 

#135:  Author: Cath, Location: Cornwall PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:57 pm

Yay, more Amy! Thank you Catherine, that was a lovely post, and I hope Amy does do something to remember her father. Smile

 

#136:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 2:42 pm

So so so good to see this back - thankyou Catherine

 

#137:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 5:53 pm

Thanks Catherine - also hoping Joey isn't too overwhelming - think she can be good for her.

 

#138:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:05 pm

yay she's back. Like most people I hope Joey won't overwhelm Amy, but she might just (typically) be able to fix things.

 

#139:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:12 pm

Wonderful!!! Thank you Catherine!!! (and good to see you again too hun!)

 

#140:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:31 pm

It's back, it's back *happy dancing*

 

#141:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:33 am

Thank you Catherine nice to see you back. Glad Amy had a good time with the twins, hope she does do something to remember her father.

 

#142:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:54 am

Also glad to see this back!!! Laughing Laughing

 

#143:  Author: Piggy, Location: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:08 am

Oh wow. Have just read all this and other drabbles as well in one sitting without dinner and am now late for bed. Love Amy lots, far better than stinking PhD work. reading

 

#144:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:28 am

“Dr. Jack isn’t working this week and he’s carried the children off for the day so I’m glad you could join me,” Joey laughed to Amy as she ushered her into the house. “I love this house but it does feel very big and empty when there’s nobody at home! I have promised we’ll have tea ready for them though and since it’s also Anna’s day off, I rather hoped you’d help me with the baking!”
“If you want,” Amy agreed shyly.
“I do want,” Joey assured her. “There’s plenty of time for that, however! We’re in nice time for elevenses so we’ll sit and have a chat and then we’ll have to prepare lunch. After lunch, I thought we’d take a stroll down to the village and get what we need for an afternoon’s baking! Make yourself comfortable and I’ll be back in a moment!” She left Amy whilst she went to get their elevenses, returning a few minutes later with a tray, to find Amy staring dreamily into space. Amy didn’t notice Joey come in and indeed it wasn’t until a glass of lemonade was pressed into her hand that she came back to reality.
“Oh! I’m sorry!” she went beetroot red at the thought of her rudeness in not offering to help Joey.
“What for?” Joey demanded lightly. “Thinking isn’t a crime you know!”
“I should have offered to help,” Amy murmured.
“Rubbish!” Joey retorted. “Your help this afternoon is all I ask! In the meantime you are my guest and I fully expect you to let me wait on you – just don’t let on at School! A hotelier I was not cut out to be and if it gets out at School that I treat my guests with such honour I shall be inundated! I only reserve it for my special guests!” She grinned infectiously at Amy as she finished and Amy found herself grinning back. “That’s better!” Joey decided. “That worried expression of yours doesn’t suit your peculiar type of beauty!” she chuckled. “How was your weekend? Was it good to see your friends?”
“Yes, it was lovely!” Amy assented, beginning to lose her shyness under this matter of fact way of talking. “It’s so long since I’ve seen them but they’re still the same – they’ve not changed,” she ended on a slightly wistful note.
“Oh I should think they have - just not in ways that you’ve had time to notice yet,” Joey suggested. “After all, we all change over time but sometimes the changes aren’t noticeable until something happens to show it. For instance, someone may grow in confidence but their childhood friend may not necessarily notice because he/she has always been used to taking the lead and making the decisions in their friendship. Therefore, it would not occur to them that their friend may now be ready to make her own decisions and may want more of a say in the things the two of them may do together. On the other hand, however, the childhood friend, may have realised that other people have different viewpoints and be more prepared to consider those viewpoints but only if they were given the opportunity to do so. Do you understand?” she glanced at Amy.
“I-I’m not sure,” Amy confessed.
“Well, I may be wrong here, but I suspect that in the past, you were quite happy to go along with whatever plans Louisa and Charlotte made because you didn’t feel confident in making your own decisions. They have become used to that and when they saw you, were trying to help you accept what had happened by suggesting what you should do next. However, you have developed confidence and now have your own ideas about what you want to do and so you were not quite so ready to go along with what they suggested but because of the nature of your friendship, you abstained from disagreeing with them. They therefore, assumed things were still the same between you all and didn’t hesitate to suggest ways in which you can move forward.”
“B-but what do I do?” Amy asked, puzzled. “I’m not very good at objecting – I might just make it sound like I’m annoyed with them or something.”
“Well a good start might be to decide what you want to do next and then, if it is different to what they suggested, write and tell them that you’re grateful for their suggestions but you don’t really feel you could carry them out and therefore you want to do whatever it is you decide to do.”
“But that’s just it!” Amy burst out. “I don’t know what I want to do! At least, I think I do but I don’t know. I didn’t not like what they were saying, it’s just I felt like they were telling me what I had to do and I wanted time to think and decide what I wanted to do myself.”
“Which is only natural,” Joey agreed. “What did they suggest you do?”
“They said I should have a funeral service for him – b-but I’m not sure. They just think I should move on b-but it’s not that easy – he was my Daddy,” Amy gulped as she ended and Joey moved across to sit beside her.
“Perhaps,” she said gently, “they feel you should be celebrating his life rather than mourning his loss of life? I expect there are a lot of people that your Daddy knew who would like to be able to say goodbye to him, Louisa and Charlotte amongst them, and to have some kind of service, would be a way of doing this. I’m sure your Daddy wouldn’t have wanted you to stay sad and not really accept that he is with God and at peace. And he must be very happy now, Amy. He’s with his parents and the wife he loved so very dearly. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave you on your own but he knew you would have lots of people to help you and to offer you a home and when he was in France, he must have known that the best thing he could do would be to say goodbye to life. If he had struggled to stay alive, soldiers must have carried him to a hospital, putting themselves in more danger and hindering the advance into France. He died knowing he had done his part towards ridding the world of the evil force within it and that he had helped to prevent invasion, start the liberation of France and safeguard the future of his own country. He knew you would be looked after and that he could join the people that had filled his life with love and helped to make him the person he was, feeling he had done his best. Is that not worth celebrating? Do you not want the chance to show people how proud you are of him and make sure they understand what a wonderful man and father he was?”
“Y-yes but i-if I have a service, I’ll end up crying and looking stupid in front of everybody,” Amy sobbed out the real reason behind her fear of having a church service to say goodbye. “I don’t want to cry in public but if I’m saying goodbye I will and I’ll be embarrassed and everything will be worse,” she sobbed.
“Crying is a good thing” Joey said gently, cuddling the girl to her. “You’d be showing your father and everybody around you that you loved him and will miss him. You’re showing them how you feel about the loss of your father. People do cry at funerals and memorial services and not just close family. People will expect you to be upset and nobody would object or think you silly for crying. Madame, Sir James, Miss Annersley, Miss Wilson, myself and Dr. Jack would all be there to help you and so would Louisa and Charlotte and their parents. Amy, never be afraid to show people how you really feel – it is only then that you can get the help you really need. And think how proud your father will be of you – he’ll be watching from heaven and saying “That’s my little girl and she’s showing people that even though she loved me so very much, she knows she has to say goodbye to me.”
“I-I’ll do it,” Amy sat up, scrubbing her eyes. “O-only I don’t want it to be too sad. I want to show him how much I love him.”
“And you shall,” Joey promised. “Suppose you talk to Miss Annersley when you get back to School? Or Madame if you would rather? They can help you decide what sort of service you would like and take you to see the Vicar of Howells. Perhaps you could write something about Daddy to read out at the service? Something telling people what you thought about your father – and if you don’t want to read it yourself, I’m sure somebody else will do it for you.”
“I-I won’t be left alone?” Amy persisted anxiously.
“Absolutely not!” Joey said with such conviction in her tones that Amy did not doubt her and relaxed.

 

#145:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:05 pm

Thank you Catherine. Great to see Jo being so understanding and helping Amy.

 

#146:  Author: Chris, Location: Nottingham PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:59 pm

Glad to see this back Catherine, showing Joey in a sympathetic light rather than an interfering one.

 

#147:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:16 pm

Thank you Catherine

((Amy))

she's had so much to deal with, I hope the service will help.

 

#148:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:45 pm

Ahhhh, that's lovely,Catherine - just what Amy needs.

Thank you - glad this is back.

 

#149:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:51 am

It's back!!

Thank you Catherine!! Lovely Jo!

 

#150:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:54 pm

Lovely to see this back Catherine - thank you

 

#151:  Author: Steph, Location: Blackpool, Lancashire PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:10 pm

I've missed this, glad it's back. Lovely to see Jo being so mothering and nice, thanks Catherine

 

#152:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:32 pm

Jo's advice is really thoughtful, I like her in this drabble, it shows her motherly side rather than her school-girl, happy-go-lucky character!

 

#153:  Author: Cath, Location: Cornwall PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:14 pm

Yay, it's back! Lovely update, thank you Catherine.

 

#154:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:40 pm

Thank you Catherine so lovely to have this back. Poor little Amy!

 

#155:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun May 01, 2005 8:40 pm

Thanks Catherine - good to see more of this.

Jo is lovely with Amy there.

Liz

 

#156:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 8:50 am

More or less finished now.


The memorial service duly happened approximately two weeks later, not long before the end of term. The two Heads, Sir Jem and Madame had fully agreed that a memorial service would be nice and they, with the Vicar of Howells Church, had helped Amy to plan a short but simple service. All those who had known Amy and her father and who could manage it, travelled to Howells Village for the service and Amy was warmed and helped by the many expressions of sympathy and promises of help should she ever need it.

During the service itself, Amy had sat between Madge and Jem and she hadn’t let go of Jem’s hand during the entire service. He, for his part, much to his wife’s private amusement, seemed to have decided it was his job to look after this shy, timid girl and treated her with far more fatherly protectiveness than he ever did his own daughters. The two Heads, Joey and Jack had sat behind the three and Miss Annersley occasionally gave Amy’s shoulder a comforting squeeze – always at exactly the right moment, Amy reflected afterwards. The Jennings had sat on the opposite side of the aisle, in the front most pew for whilst Madge and Miss Annersley had agreed to do the readings, Mr Jennings had volunteered to read out what Amy had written about her father and he had added a few words of his own.

Afterwards, the congregation had been invited back to the Round House for tea and Amy found herself sought out by all and sundry. Many were the invitations to visit, much was the advice given from the older members of the congregation, many of whom had lost siblings, husbands, friends or children, on coming to terms with her loss and grief and many were the mementos of her father, pressed onto her by the congregation. They came in the form of photographs, stories of something he had done or said and some small gifts he had given to others. Amy found it all rather overwhelming at the time, but afterwards she was grateful and it was not so bad as it might have been for the twins never left her side and one or other of the Heads, the Russells, the Maynards, the Jennings and those mistresses who had managed to get away, were on hand to field questions or steer the conversation away from the more distressing topics. She remained dry-eyed throughout the day but it was a relief when, at last, the majority of visitors had left.
“Amy! I’ve just had the most brilliant idea!” Louisa announced excitedly and Amy, lying exhaustedly in Mrs Jennings’ arms, looked up at her, a half smile on her face.
“You think all your ideas are brilliant,” she observed, drawing a chuckle from Louisa’s parents and siblings – Seventeen year old Matthew and twelve year old James Jennings had come with their parents for the service.
“One day she’ll realise they’re not,” Matthew observed and ducked as Louisa aimed a blow at his head.
“Are we to hear this brilliant idea or not?” Alison Jennings demanded.
“You are!” Louisa informed her. “Amy, d’y remember what we said about having something to remember your father by? Well, you’ve had loads of stuff given to you and told to you today so you can use that brain of yours and make an album of him – you can put it in all the photos and the stuff you’ve been told about him and then your children and grandchildren will be able to know who he is! Stop laughing!” she ended indignantly for her audience had doubled up in laughter at this last remark.
“You are an idiot, Lou!” James remarked. “She’s only fourteen! She won’t get married for years yet – if ever!”
“No reason why she shouldn’t get married one day,” Matthew remarked, glancing at Amy in a way that made both his parents sit up and take notice – metaphorically speaking.
“One day perhaps but not for many years yet,” Charles Jennings said firmly as Amy smiled shyly at Matthew in response. “And yes, Louisa that’s a very good idea but it would take a great deal of work.”
“That’s OK – Charlotte can help her,” Louisa replied and her twin gasped.
“You can both help me,” Amy interposed quietly before Charlotte could reply.
“We’ll all help you!” Matthew added. “Between all of us, you’ll have a hope of remembering what you’ve been told – it could be something really good by the time it’s finished.”
“It could be?” Louisa repeated indignantly. “It will be! It’s my idea remember!”
“Is Amy goin’ to sleep?” Ailie had wandered into the room.
“I think she’d like to,” Alison Jennings smiled first at the baby and then at Amy. “Have you come to see her?”
“I was looking for Mummy an’ then I saw Amy an’ I thought maybe she was going to sleep,” Ailie explained.
“I’m here Ailie,” Madge appeared from behind Ailie, having been helping Marie to clear up the remnants of the tea. Jem had been called away to the San and the staff, two Heads, Joey and Jack had all departed. She stooped and picked up her youngest daughter who cuddled down in her arms. “Amy, you look exhausted,” she smiled down at the girl. “Would you like to lie down for a bit?”
“I-I’m all right,” Amy stammered but Alison Jennings, exchanging glances with Madge, took matters into her own hands.
“You need a nap,” she remarked, sitting Amy up. “Come on! You can show me your room and I’ll tuck you in and stay until you’re asleep.” She led a tired Amy out of the room and up to the peace and quiet of her bedroom, where, as she had fully expected, the tears that had been kept at bay all day, suddenly trickled over and sobbing, Amy clung to the woman who had been a mother to her since she was a baby. Alison cuddled and soothed the girl until the tears stopped and then laying her down, she stayed with her, stroking her hair until she fell asleep.

A week later saw the end of term and Amy found it very strange not to be amongst the hordes of girls leaving Plas Howell for the holidays. She was to spend the next eight weeks with the Russells and both Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson had told her to expect to see plenty of them. The Jennings’ had been invited for a weekend or two during the holidays and Amy knew that next term the twins would join her at the School. Further than that she could not think, but she was comforted and reassured by the many people who had offered her a home over the past few weeks and although she still could not believe she would be completely happy again, she was starting to come to terms with what had happened and she was growing in confidence with those around her. She now realised that whatever the future held for her, there would be plenty of people around her to offer guidance and comfort and to give her a home for as long as she needed it and the future did not seem as bleak as it once had.

 

#157:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 10:42 am

Thank you Catherine. Lovely post, great to see Amy growing in confidence and security.

 

#158:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 7:37 pm

Thank you Catherine - Amy finally starting to realise that she can continue, that she is not alone.

This has been a wonderful drabble.

 

#159:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:12 pm

Thank you Catherine - I'm glad the memorial service wasn't too upsetting for her at the time, and also that she was able to let it all go later.

*cries cos this is nearly over*

 

#160:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2005 11:15 pm

Thank you Catherine, glad the service helped Amy, and that she is able to grow and feel more secure.

 

#161:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2005 7:29 am

Thank you Catherine

It sounds like it was a beautiful service and just the right thing for Amy to do.

Liz

 

#162:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 9:02 am

Thank you for reading this and for all your comments ....

EPILOGUE

It was a hot summer’s day in 1947, two years after the end of the Second World War. In Normandy, a sixteen year old girl, who with every day that passed was resembling her father more and more, was kneeling by a grave, her eyes shining with tears. As she knelt there, watched from a distance by her Headmistresses, a man in his early twenties approached her. He cleared his throat slightly and she jumped, rising hurriedly to her feet, a startled look on her face.
“Excuse me but you wouldn’t be Amy Rutherford, would you?” he asked politely.
“Y-yes,” she stammered. “Sorry, do I know you?” she added, pulling herself together.
“I have written to you but we’ve not met before,” he smiled. “My name is Jonathan Redford and I served with your father during the war.”
“I remember,” a recollection struck Amy. “You wrote to me in Autumn 1944 – I can’t remember much of what you said,” she said apologetically. “I remember it brought it all back but at the same time, it helped. I-I would have written back but you didn’t leave a return address.”
“I hoped it would help,” Jonathan smiled. “I didn’t leave a return address because I was about to return to France and I didn’t want you spending the next weeks and months worrying over my lack of response! I’d been injured and was sent home to recover. I always intended to contact you again but life overtook me and when I did think about you, I wasn’t sure you would even be at the School still, let alone remember who on earth I was. I didn’t feel it was right to rake it all up again either,” he paused and turned his gaze to the grave before them. “This is the first time I’ve been back – I wanted to pay my respects to my fellow soldiers but so many of them were my friends, especially your father, that it was too painful to even consider until now. Your father told me I would meet you one day but at the time, I never thought it would be here, at his graveside. He told me a lot about you and his life whilst I was with him. He missed you every day he was away from you and thought about you constantly. I could tell from the way he talked about you that he loved you very dearly and I know his one regret in going from this life was that he was leaving you behind. He was looking forward to being with your mother again and his family but he wished, for your sake, that he could have been spared.”
“How did it happen?” Amy asked, after a moment.
“We were advancing into Caen and at every stage we met with more fire from the Germans as they desperately tried to retain their power. We returned fire, of course, but though it helped to protect some of us, it could not protect all. We – your father and I - were near the front and were the first to meet the barrage of fire and we opened fire back but we had been taken by surprise for we had been led to believe that the Germans were falling back towards Paris and in that moment, your father, unprotected, was shot. Despite that, however, he carried on,” his voice deepened and Amy listened harder. “He was still able to walk, although with every step his strength lessened and with some help from the rest of us, he managed to make to a nearby farmhouse – we did not dare continue to Caen until we had had a chance to regroup and consider our next move, such was the intensity of fire that met us. The farmer was acting for the French Resistance and knew of our arrival. He was laid down in bed and despite the best efforts of us all, he slipped away peacefully. I was with him all the time – he was a good friend to me and helped me out of one or two tricky situations – I was only eighteen when I joined up and my keenness to beat the Germans sometimes overtook my common sense! A lot of the time he appeared to be sleeping but when he was awake, he could only talk about you. As I told you in my letter, he asked me to tell you that he did not want you to be sad – rather he wanted you to be happy that he was with the people he loved again. He said that, despite that, he wanted you to know how much he loved you and would always love you. You were nothing but a joy to him,” Jonathan carried on, quoting from memory. “After your mother’s death, you gave him the strength to carry on, you made him laugh again when he didn’t think he would, you made him see that life could still be good. You gave him a purpose for living and through you he could see the wife he loved so much living on. He was devastated when the war came and he had to leave you but he knew you would be safe in Wales and the School and your next door neighbours would look after you. He asked you to be proud that your father died serving for his country and he asked me to tell you that although he would no longer be with you in body, he would be there in mind and spirit, guiding you every step of the way and watching over you from heaven. He would live on through you. He said he knew he would be as proud of you in death as he was in life.” A sob broke from Amy as he finished and almost at once, the tender arms of Miss Annersley, who together with Miss Wilson, had proved Amy’s best source of comfort in the days, weeks and months following the news of her father’s death, were round her.
“It’s all right, darling!” the Head soothed Amy tenderly whilst Jonathan tactfully moved away. From a distance, he kept an eye on the group – Miss Wilson had joined them – and when eventually, Amy was composed once more, he returned.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” he smiled. “I know I told you in my letter what your father said to me but I wanted you to hear me say it.”
“I think perhaps Amy needed to hear you say it,” Miss Annersley said, still holding Amy in her arms. “It was a difficult time for her when the news came through and I know she found it hard when your letter came. It helped her, I know but I’m not sure that she’s read it since and sometimes we need these things reinforced by speech.”
“It can be very easy to convince someone of something in writing, but it’s not so easy in speech,” Nell Wilson added. “I think Amy needed to be convinced of her father’s feelings for her and now she has been.”
“Have you?” Jonathan queried as the two Heads withdrew once more.
“Yes,” Amy nodded. “I-I don’t think I was ready to believe anything anybody could tell me about what Daddy had said or done before he died. I was too angry with him for leaving me back then and I couldn’t see how a perfect stranger could possibly know anything about my father and what he did or didn’t think about me. But now,”
“Now?” Jonathan prompted gently, as Amy paused.
“Now, I believe you and I believe him,” she answered quietly. “I can see that you are telling me the truth and that you did know Daddy. I expect you’re glad though that it was him that died and not you.”
“I wouldn’t say glad, Amy,” Jonathan said thoughtfully. “I saw many of my friends die in combat and it was a failure of all of us that we felt guilty that they should have died and not us. At the same time, we’re only human and you can’t help but feel pleased that you are still alive. I remember when a sergeant that we all liked died and I asked your father why it should have been him dying and leaving behind a wife and family when I had nobody to mourn my loss. My father died when I was about five and my mother was killed in the bombings just after I joined up. He was a great comfort to me when the news came – he contrived to get leave so that he could be with me when I went home to sort things out. He only left me to pay a flying visit to you – he said he couldn’t come home without getting a hug from his little girl. He supported me all the time and helped me with my grief. Anyway, when I said it should have been me that died and why did God seem to be choosing one person over another, he told me quite forcefully that the deaths of my fellow men were through the actions of Man alone and it was out of God’s hands. We were fighting for the triumph of good over evil and it was nothing more than luck that decided who survived and who didn’t. The other thing that he said was that I was young and I had my whole life ahead of me and that even though it meant leaving you behind, he would willingly lay down his life for me or for any other young person. He knew that you would be well looked after and would get all the help and support you needed whether he was there or not.”
“You mean he wanted to die?”
“No. He meant that if it came down to a choice between him and another person who was younger than he was, he would believe that he had already lived his life and whilst he could continue to live it, he would only grow older and would not achieve as much with his life as somebody of my age. I don’t know whether he was right or wrong in that belief – only he could have proved it one way or the other had he lived. What I do know is that he was grateful that he was the one to have been shot and not a young person like myself and it helped him as he lay there thinking about you - he felt that through his death would come some good.”
“So even if he didn’t actually die saving somebody’s life, he was helping somebody else to live theirs?” Amy queried.
“He did die saving somebody’s life,” Jonathan corrected her. “He died helping to save the lives of those left at home and he died in the knowledge that his death was preventing the death of myself or somebody younger, who had he not been there, may have been the recipient of that shot. He also died helping those at home – indeed, those round the world, to live their lives as they had been before the Nazi regime happened in Germany and spread around Europe. He died in the battle for those fortunate enough to have escaped living directly under the Nazis to maintain their freedom and to give back freedom to those who were living under the Nazis. Every one of us that fought – whether we lived or died – helped to achieve the triumph of good over evil and you should be proud that your father was a part of it.”
“I am, oh I am!” Amy assured him. “It’s just that at times, it’s hard not to be sad that if it wasn’t for the War, I’d still have Daddy.”
“As your father lay dying, he told me to focus not on what might have or should have been, but what might be and what should be – and he told me to tell you too,” Jonathan told her. “Amy, you must not focus on what might have been had the War not happened or what should have been but you must focus on your future. Focus on what you can achieve with your life – not what has gone wrong with your life for that would sadden him and make him guilty. Don’t let that happen, Amy! What can you do to ensure that he was right to believe you could still make him proud of you, even though he is no longer alive? He was proud of you when he was alive – what can you do to make him proud of you in death?”
“I-I don’t know,” Amy stammered.
“He would be proud of you now for having the courage to come and visit his grave,” Jonathan said gently. “You may not know what your future holds but what he would want is for you to live your life to its fullest – as you would have done had he come back alive. Enjoy your freedom, enjoy being alive – enjoy every moment of every day! When you wake up and when you go to sleep, say thank you to him for his part in helping to win the battle for good over evil and say thank you to God for helping it to happen and for looking after all those who died fighting for it.”
“I will,” Amy answered, after a moment. “Thank you, Jonathan. You’ve really helped me – more than I ever thought anybody could.”
“Well there you can repay me if you feel you can,” Jonathan answered. “I got married last Autumn and we’re now expecting a baby – that’s part of the reason I felt I could now come – I have more reason than ever to be grateful that all these people laid down their life so that I did not have to. Your father taught and helped me a lot and if the baby is a boy, we would like to name it Christopher, after him. If it’s a girl, we would like to name it Amy, after you – but whichever it is, we would like you to come and stay frequently and also to be its godmother.”
“Me? But why?” Amy looked astonished. “You don’t even know me!”
“I do know you,” Jonathan corrected. “I know you through the talk of your father and now I’ve met you in person, I feel as though I’ve known you for years. Many of my closest friends are now dead or are now so bitter at the way their lives have been changed by the War that I would not wish them to be an influence in the life of my child. You are the daughter of one of my closest friends and through you, he lives on. Alice can’t be here today but I’ve discussed it with her and we both felt that if I was able to find you again before the baby’s christening – before his/her birth if possible – we wanted you to play a part in our lives. Will you?”
“If you want me as me, then yes,” Amy replied. “If you want me because I’m just my father’s daughter, then no. I’m not him and we thought differently about many things so if it is his beliefs and morals that you want in your child’s life, then I’m afraid I cannot give you what you wish,” she explained, showing unexpected wisdom. “If you want me because I’m Amy and because through what Daddy has told you about me and through your meeting with me, you like me and think I would be as good as influence as yourselves and as my father himself would have been on your child’s life, then yes I will. But if you think that last, I think it would be better if you met me again, with your wife, on more than one occasion so that you could be absolutely sure that you were making the right decision. As I said, I am not my father – I am merely his daughter and we are two separate people with different ideas, morals and beliefs. If you think, after getting to know me as a person and not just somebody my father talked about, that you would definitely want my beliefs, ideas and morals in your child’s life, then I would love to be godmother.”
“She is speaking wisely, Jonathan,” Nell Wilson remarked, having come to Amy’s side during this speech. “Before you finally take your leave of us, write down the address of the School and go away and think over who it is you want in your child’s life and when you have made your decision, write and tell Amy of it. If you wish to see her again, she will let us know and we will make the necessary arrangements with you. If you do not, then Amy will accept your decision and be glad that you have made the right one for your child.”
“Either way,” Hilda Annersley added, holding out the School’s address for him, “I suggest you wait until your child is born before you make your decision. Holding your child in your arms for the first time, may make you feel quite differently about it all.”
“Which is why,” Amy said suddenly, “if you wish to see me again, I would like it to be because you want to get to know me as a friend and not as a potential Godmother. I would not want you to view me as nothing but a tool towards giving your child happiness and safety only to be disappointed if you feel that I am not suitable. I would rather that, whether I become Godmother or not, I am someone you view as a friend and not just your child’s Godmother or the daughter of a friend. It will be difficult for any kind of friendship between us if I think you are just coming to visit me so that you can ‘interview’ me about my view of life and the future in order to help you decide if I am the right kind of person to have in your child’s life.”
“You are very wise, Amy,” Jonathan smiled suddenly. “I will remember what you say and I will think about it. But in my turn, whenever you feel sad or angry with God or with anybody else that it was myself, for example, - somebody other than your father that survived, I would like you to remember this – the view of all of us that did survive:

Quote:
“I was just one of the lucky ones that did come back.”
(The words of a veteran interviewed on the 60th anniversary of D-Day last year)


There was silence as Amy digested Jonathan’s words and then he said softly:

“Nobody will forget your father, Amy. Remember the poem by Lawrence Binyon:


Quote:
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not wither them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”


As he bent and kissed her goodbye, the words of another poem sprang, unbidden, to Amy’s mind and she knew then that it was her father speaking to her and telling her to look forward to her future:


Quote:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awake in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there - I did not die. (Anon)

 

#163:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 9:48 am

Catherine, that was beautiful, you have me in tears. Your Amy has grown into a very wise and compassionate young woman.


Thank you, this has been a wonderful story.

 

#164:  Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 10:10 am

Lesley wrote:
Catherine, that was beautiful, you have me in tears. Your Amy has grown into a very wise and compassionate young woman.


I agree totally with Lesley, Catherine. That was a magnificent last post, so many wise and tender words, so much truth. We would all do well to take them to heart and commit them to memory.

Thank you for the whole story. Smile

 

#165: Amy Author: Elder in Ontario, Location: Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 1:47 pm

I agree wholeheartedly with Lesley and Mary that this was a beautiful final post - I had tears in my eyes too when I finished it. So much wisdom packed into it and, as Mary commented, so much that we would all do well to consider and reflect upon ourselves.

Amy is maturing into a very thoughtful young woman, who thinks seriously about things; I loved her comments to Jonathan about what he needs to consider in terms of any potential future friendship with her. Clearly his personal account of her father's last minutes and his reflections on them, together with the passage of time have helped her to accept what happened, more than his letter did.

I've really enjoyed this - thank you, Catherine.

Last edited by Elder in Ontario on Mon May 23, 2005 3:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#166:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 2:48 pm

Wow. Thank you Catherine, beautiful and full of wisdom. Only not in tears cos I'm in the office.

 

#167:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:42 pm

Thank you Catherine! That was absolutely beautiful!

 

#168:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:29 pm

Thank you Catherine. That was a lovely epilogue.

Liz

 

#169:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:58 pm

Thank you Catherine. That was beautiful and it was lovely to see Amy grow through the pain to become such an insightful young woman.

 

#170:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 3:26 am

Thank you, Catherine. The epilogue is especially lovely, reflecting years of growth and coming to terms. The old Amy wouldn't have been able to listen to Jonathan, let alone think through the godmother issue so thoroughly.

 

#171:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:15 am

That was beautiful Catherine, thank you.

 

#172:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:15 am

Thankyou Catherine - that was wonderful - like others, I've been reaching for the tissues

 

#173:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:57 pm

Thank you Catherine. I really liked Amy's maturity in that last post, it's good to see that she did manage to move on once the grief began to lessen.

 

#174:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Thank you Catherine - Amy has grown up into a young woman wise beyond her years. Meeting someone who served with her father like that was a beautiful wasy to end what has been a a very powerful and exquisitely written story.

 

#175:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:10 am

Thank you Catherine.

The epilogue was just beautiful - how much Amy has grown, both intellectually and emotionally, in the years since her father's death!

 

#176:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 11:56 pm

Catherine that was a beautiful ending to a lovely story. Amy did grow up so nicely.

 

#177:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2005 8:56 pm

That was lovely Catherine - thanks for posting this.

JackieJ

 

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