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The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6529

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:57 am ]
Post subject:  The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

My first CS drabble - it's about Theodora prior to the CS.

“Theodora! Come in here for a moment, will you? I want to talk to you.”

Theodora Grantley sighed and opened the door to her mother’s sitting room. Mrs Grantley was standing in front of one of the mirrors, patting her golden hair into place with one hand, and holding a letter in the other. Now, she turned and glared at Theodora. “Oh, Theodora! Have you been outside in all this rain? And without a raincoat? You’re drenched. For pity’s sake go upstairs and dry yourself and get changed, then come back here to see me, because I have some news for you. Do you want to get pneumonia?”

Her mother wouldn’t care if she caught pneumonia and died, Theodora thought dramatically – albeit with some truth – as she stomped upstairs. She couldn’t remember her mother ever having shown her any affection, not even after Theodora’s father died. Theodora had been five and her mother had packed her off to boarding-school at six – “That was how much she cared!” thought Theodora now. Of course, if she’d been a boy or taken after her mother in terms of beauty, instead of being undersized and plain, things might have been different. She sighed again.

Theodora took off her wet clothes and dried herself with a towel, wondering what the news was. Her mother had been holding a letter; perhaps one of her brothers was coming home for a visit. Or perhaps they’d received an invitation to go and spend some time with her eldest brother in Canada – Theodora hoped so, but then put the thought from her mind. Her mother didn’t have the money to take them both over to Canada. And she didn’t think her brother could afford to pay for both of them to go. So, what could it be? She put on some fresh clothes, and headed back downstairs to her mother’s sitting room. She wouldn’t normally have obeyed her mother in this way, but she was curious about her news.

Mrs Grantley didn’t waste any time in enlightening her. “You’re going to school again next term, Theodora. You’ve spent far too much time just sitting around the house doing nothing and learning nothing since you were expelled from your last school.”

Theodora was disappointed that this was her mother’s news, but at the same time she wasn’t surprised. After she’d been expelled, her mother had hired a governess for a while, but that hadn’t worked out well – Theodora had made sure of that. Theodora gave a little smile as she remembered some of the things she’d done to make sure the governess spent all her spare time trying to seek alternative employment. Since the governess left, Theodora had spent all her time at home, as her mother had said. She’d known it couldn’t go on for ever, but had wondered whether any school would accept a girl who had been expelled from one school and asked to leave another.

“The trustees have chosen a school for you,” said Mrs Grantley, and Theodora stared – this was a surprise. Her mother had chosen her previous schools and they’d been the type Mrs Grantley would have liked to have attended when she was a child. Her last one had specialised in teaching art, embroidery and other accomplishments; Theodora had been thoroughly bored there. If the trustees who were looking after Mr Grantley’s estate had chosen it, it would probably be more academic than her mother’s choices.

“You’ll be going to Elmhurst School in Sussex,” said Mrs Grantley. “And for pity's sake, Theodora, make sure you stay out of trouble there. It’s embarrassing enough having a daughter who’s been asked to leave two schools, without having you behaving so badly that you’re asked to leave a third. The prospectus for Elmhurst is over there on my bureau – now take it upstairs and take a look at it before tea.”

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Poor Ted - had her mother shown her even a small amount of affection she would have behaved very differently. There again, if that were the case she wouldn't have ended up at the CS! :lol:


Thanks Liz

Author:  Nightwing [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Oh excellent - I love Ted! Looking forward to reading about her pre-CS :D

Author:  Alison H [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Looking forward to more - I always felt so sorry for Ted about her mother's attitude towards her.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Another Ted fan here - this looks like a wonderful start, I can't wait to read more!

Thankyou :D

Author:  Abi [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

I love Ted too - she really didn't get a good start in life.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Thanks, am looking forward to reading more of Ted before she reaches the CS

Author:  lizarfau [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School

Theodora was supposed to meet the school coach at Bournemouth at midday, but Mrs Grantley had an appointment at one o’clock, and so drove Theodora down earlier. “You’ll only have an hour to wait for the coach,” she told her, pointing out the hotel that the coach would stop in front of. “Here’s some money so you can buy yourself some lunch.” She shoved some notes into Theodora’s hand. “I really must be off now, Theodora, or I’ll be late for my appointment. Now, I’ll see you at the end of term and I’m expecting a good school report for a change. Is that clear?”

Theodora nodded. Mrs Grantley kissed her coolly on the forehead, smoothed down Theodora’s mass of thick dark hair, and said, “And do go and tidy yourself up before the coach arrives. You look as if you’ve been pulled through a hedge backwards.”

Theodora stood on the pavement, hockey stick in one hand, overnight case in the other – her trunk had been sent on to Elmhurst earlier in the week – and watched her mother drive away. She was dressed in the Elmhurst winter uniform of bottle green tunic and blazer, and felt very hot, as it was a sunny September day. She took off her blazer and was just wondering what she was going to do with herself before the coach came – she wasn’t hungry or even thirsty yet, having had an early elevenses in the car – when a girl of about her own age, with short blonde curls, and wearing the Elmhurst uniform suddenly walked up the street towards her.

“I say,” she said, “are you for Elmhurst too? My guardian got the times mixed up and dropped me off frightfully early. What happened to you?”

“My mother has a meeting to attend,” replied Theodora.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here – I was feeling bored all by myself,” said the girl. “My name’s Bettina Charlton, by the way,” she added, holding out her hand.

“Theodora Grantley,” Theodora said.

“Are you new too?” Bettina asked.

“Yes.”

“How old are you?”

“Nearly fourteen. My birthday’s in October.”

“I’ll be fourteen in February so I should think we’ll be in the same form. I’m so excited about going to Elmhurst, aren’t you? My guardian’s sister went there, back in the dark ages, and she says it’s a smashing place. So, what shall we do till the coach comes? Are you hungry?”

“No,” said Theodora.

“Me neither. Well, what about going down to the beach?”

“Well … ” Theodora glanced at her watch.

“Oh, there’s heaps of time! It’s a pity we don’t have our bathing things with us – well, at least I don’t – or we could go for swim and cool off. But we could have a paddle at least.”

“Okay,” said Theodora. She was too hot in her blouse and tunic and a paddle in the sea would cool her down. And Bettina was right – there was plenty of time till the coach came.

Author:  Miss Di [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Thanks Liz, although I can see Theodora getting into trouble before she even arrives at her new school!

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Mrs Grantley is a really wonderful parent, isn't she? :roll: :banghead: At least Bettina is there only because her guardian made a mistake - not because she has an 'appointment' elsewhere.


Thanks Liz

Author:  Alison H [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Oh dear, this isn't going to make a good impression on the staff.

Author:  Squirrel [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

uh-oh... This doesn't sound good. Paddling won't make a good impression on 'the authorities' even if they don't end up missing the transport/making the others late. But I really think that it's Mrs Grantley whose to blame here - shows how little consideration and understanding of girls she's got. Leave a 14 year old in a hot uncomfortable outfit to wait without supervision for an hour before going off to a new school? Instant recipe for disaster!

I'll be interested to see where you take this (beyond the obvious old teacher having arrived at the school/give a dog a bad name/smoking out of the bathroom window stuff! - assuming you're sticking to that story line of course :wink: )

Thanks lizarfau

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Uh-oh! I also sense trouble, and poor Ted isn't even really to blame - though I bet the other girl slides out of it.

Thankyou.

Author:  Abi [ Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Oh dear, I can see this being a bad start for Theodora - with the report the school must have from her previous school this will probably be looked on as more of the same, even though it isn't.

Thanks Liz.

Author:  lizarfau [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 3 Sept

Squirrel wrote:
I'll be interested to see where you take this (beyond the obvious old teacher having arrived at the school/give a dog a bad name/smoking out of the bathroom window stuff! - assuming you're sticking to that story line of course :wink: )


Yes, I'm sticking with that storyline.


The girls took off their stockings and shoved them into their overnight cases, then walked across the warm sand. “I’ve got a towel with me so we can dry our feet afterwards,” said Bettina. “I say, it’s hot, isn’t it? Too hot for blouses and tunics! All the old girls will be in their summer dresses, the lucky things!”

“Mmm,” said Theodora distractedly. Her attention was caught by a boy a bit younger than herself who was stomping on a sandcastle that, given the protests they were making, had evidently been made by two little girls.

“It took us ages to make it,” one of the girls was yelling. “You’re a horrid brother to have. Mummy shouldn’t let you look after us, because you’re always horrible to us.”

“Sez you!” said the boy. He stomped on the nearly flat castle one more time and bounded off towards the water.

“You shouldn’t treat them like that,” Theodora called out to him. “If I see your mother, I’ll tell her what you did. Horrible little boy,” she said to Bettina, as the boy made a rude sign at her and waded into the sea.

“Yes,” said Bettina. “I’m jolly glad I don’t have brothers. Don’t worry,” she called out to the two little girls. “He’s just jealous because he can’t make such good sandcastles as you.”

“I’ve got three brothers,” said Theodora, “but they’re much older than me, so they’ve never picked on me like that.” They too had reached the water’s edge now, and they put their sticks and cases down on the sand. They walked into the water, enjoying its coolness on their feet and legs.

“How come you’re starting at Elmhurst at nearly fourteen?” Bettina asked, as she walked backwards through the lapping waves. “I was supposed to start two years ago, but I got sick. I’m only strong enough to go to boarding-school now – oy!” She waved frantically towards the beach. “What are you doing? Don’t do that!”

“What?” Theodora said. She had been quite relieved when Bettina had interrupted herself, but now as she turned towards the beach and saw the boy making a rude sign again, she wished all she had to worry about was the question about her late start at Elmhurst. For the boy had opened her overnight case and turned it and its contents into the water.

Author:  Alison H [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Oh no - she's going to make a really bad impression, and none of it's really her fault.

Author:  mohini [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Wonderful!
Waiting eagerly for more.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

What a horrid little boy - where's Dr Jem to administer a good punishment when you need him?

Thankyou!

Author:  JS [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Poor Ted - seems she attracts trouble, and she was only trying to do the right thing by the little girls. :(

Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Poor Ted. Trouble always seems to find her. Am really enjoying reading this.

Author:  Squirrel [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Well, she's at least *trying* to do the right thing. I could see myself trying to do something similar at about that age. I'm now very interested (as is Ted herself apparently) as to why starting at 14 is seen as being so 'late'.

Thank you.

Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Hope I am not spoiling anything by saying I was suprised that she was starting at Elmhurst at fouteen. Ted at the Chalet School did not seem to be interested in the subjects that Elmhurst offers. Elmhurst has moved to Birmingham so that its senior student can have work experience on stage at the Hippodrome and on tour.

Author:  Abi [ Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

Poor Ted - things are really not going well for her. And what a horrible child. Hope he gets his come-uppance!

Author:  jmc [ Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

I always liked Ted and reading this feel sorry for her knowing what is to come. Hope something happens to the horrible little boy.

Author:  Miss Di [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

I hope Theodora DROWNS that little so and so!

Author:  lizarfau [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 4 Sept

“Let’s go and find a bench and try to dry your things in the sun,” said Bettina, as Theodora fished her pyjamas and slippers out of the sea. Bettina grabbed Theodora’s case. “Horrid little boy,” she said. “I wish I could see his mother – ”

“I wish I’d just gone after him and left this lot,” said Theodora. “My things wouldn’t have been any less wet and he’d never have tried that trick again once I’d finished with him … ”

“Oh, gosh, I do feel awful,” said Bettina. “If I hadn’t suggested we go paddling … Yes, what is it?” she said, as the two little girls whose brother had caused the damage came wandering up.

“We’re so sorry about Jimmy,” said one of them. “He’s always horrible to us and he’s horrible to everybody.”

“Are you going to boarding-school?” asked the other little girl. “I’ve read about boarding-school in my comics. The girls in them have uniforms just like yours. Is boarding-school nice?”

“Well, I’m told this one is,” said Bettina, “and I hope a really nice mistress is on escort duty, or poor old Theodora is going to be in trouble because of your brother. We ought to complain to your mother.”

“It’s no use doing that,” said one of the little girls, the one who had asked if they were going to boarding-school. “We complain all the time but Mummy just lets him get away with everything. I wish we could go to boarding-school … ” She looked wistfully at Bettina’s tunic.

Bettina looked at her watch. “Buck up,” she said to Theodora. “Tempus is fugiting like anything and we need to dry your things. Girls,” she added, “do you think you could help us carry Theodora’s luggage? We’re going to try to dry her things on a bench.”

The little girls happily obliged, chattering all the time about how much they liked the idea of boarding-school as they helped carry Theodora’s sodden things. “Are there really midnight feasts?” they asked. “Do you really play pranks on the mistresses at boarding-school? Is it fun sleeping in a dormy with lots of other girls?”

Theodora let Bettina answer the questions. For one thing, she was too worried about her luggage to want to talk, and for another, she didn’t want Bettina to know she’d already attended two boarding-schools – and been expelled from them. It was best to keep quiet and let the other girl assume she’d never been to boarding-school either. Bettina was happy to talk to the girls about Elmhurst, and pass on some of the stories that her guardian’s sister had told her. “The standard is really high there,” Bettina told them. “You work hard and play hard at Elmhurst. But there’s lots of fun too – my guardian’s sister says they did have midnight feasts, though there was no end of a row if they were caught … ”


Bettina chattered on and the little girls listened agog until one of them noticed it was nearly midday and said they needed to hurry home for lunch. Theodora checked her watch and then saw a big motor coach approaching along the quay. She groaned inwardly. Her things were still wet; how would the escort mistress react?

“I’ll go over first and tell the escort mistress what happened,” said Bettina, as the coach pulled up outside the hotel. “You put your things back into your case for now. Perhaps there’ll be space in the coach for them to be spread out so they can dry a bit more. Don’t worry, Theodora! It wasn’t your fault.”

Somehow it would be, though, Theodora thought, as she watched Bettina hurry across the road, case and hockey stick in hand. It always was her fault. Even when she’d been nine and one of her friends had climbed a tree and fallen out of it, breaking her arm, somehow it had been Theodora’s fault. Same with the midnight feast at her last school that she hadn’t even attended … she just happened to have heard the noise, gone to investigate, and then been punished alongside everyone else.

She put her things into her case, then heard Bettina’s voice – “ … and the boy just picked up her things and threw them in! It was appalling … ” – and turned round to see Bettina and the escort mistress crossing the road. Her heart sank. The escort mistress was tall with dark hair and Theodora had seen her many times before.

She recognised Theodora straightaway too, and picked up her pace as she approached the bench. “Well, Theodora Grantley,” she said. “I might have known.”

Author:  Liz K [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Oh dear, poor Ted.

Author:  Alison H [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Oh, I remember that from the book now. Poor Ted, all she needs is a teacher from her last school turning up.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Oh, poor Ted! Talk about 'giving a dog a bad name'.

:cry: Thankyou.

Author:  Emma A [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Poor Theodora hasn't even arrived at school yet! You can quite see, though, why the escort mistress might have disregarded Bettina's explanations due to her own prior knowledge of Theodora's exploits.

Thanks, Liz.

Author:  RroseSelavy [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Thanks, Liz - I'm looking forward to more of this!

PaulineS wrote:
Hope I am not spoiling anything by saying I was suprised that she was starting at Elmhurst at fouteen. Ted at the Chalet School did not seem to be interested in the subjects that Elmhurst offers. Elmhurst has moved to Birmingham so that its senior student can have work experience on stage at the Hippodrome and on tour.

Is this a cross-over? I'm afraid I can't place Elmhurst...

Author:  Abi [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Oh no, poor Theodora - she won't even get a chance now :( .

Thanks Liz.

Author:  Lesley [ Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

Won't even be given a chance here then - poor kid.


Thanks Liz

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Sept

RroseSelavy wrote:
PaulineS wrote:
Hope I am not spoiling anything by saying I was suprised that she was starting at Elmhurst at fouteen. Ted at the Chalet School did not seem to be interested in the subjects that Elmhurst offers. Elmhurst has moved to Birmingham so that its senior student can have work experience on stage at the Hippodrome and on tour.

Is this a cross-over? I'm afraid I can't place Elmhurst...


Rose, it's not a cross-over, and I have no idea what Pauline is talking about. If there's an Elmhurst in another fandom or in real life, I didn't know about it. I just chose the school name from the road my nan used to live in (Elmhurst Avenue)!!!!

In truth, Miss Maybelle Rogerson was as shocked and horrified to see Theodora as the girl was to see her. This was the start of Miss Rogerson’s second term at Elmhurst, and she’d been looking forward to it. The summer term had gone so well. Miss Rogerson had always wanted to teach in a school like Elmhurst, which had high standards in terms of academic achievement and sporting prowess. Her last school, Warleigh, had cared more about accomplishments, and the headmistress had insisted she taught the girls art appreciation and to create “nice” drawings. Here at Elmhurst, she was finally able to encourage the really talented artists among the girls, and to help them develop their skills and challenge themselves. The headmistress, Miss Caldecott, had been very pleased with her work with the pupils at the end of the previous term.

But the thought of having Theodora in her lessons once more made her shudder. Of course, Elmhurst had its fair share of naughty and difficult girls, but Theodora really was the worst girl she had ever come across in her ten years of teaching. It wasn’t just that she did bad things – she encouraged other girls to join in with them. In Theodora’s last term at Warleigh, she and some of her followers had moved all the paintings around in the art room before an art appreciation class, and there had been hysterical laughter when Miss Rogerson started to talk about the paintings as if they were still in their correct spots. She had never forgiven Theodora for that or the headmistress for not giving a severe punishment at the time. That was part of the reason she’d left Warleigh – the headmistress simply did not back up her staff. It had only been the fact that Theodora’s bareback riding display had been out in public and could have got the school a bad reputation for indiscipline that the headmistress had finally got rid of a girl who Miss Rogerson believed should have been expelled long before.

Now, she wondered what on earth Miss Caldecott was doing taking on a girl like Theodora at Elmhurst – and why she hadn’t told the staff that a girl who’d been expelled from her previous school – and left the one before that in disgrace – was starting at Elmhurst. Teachers needed to know what they were dealing with. She would make sure she asked a few questions when she got back to school later on today. In the meantime, she thought, she had better deal with Theodora’s latest escapade.

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

Hmmm, well Miss Maybelle Rogerson seems to be just the type of teacher that, luckily, was not employed at the Chalet School. It seems that Ted is sunk before she's even got to the school. :cry:


Thanks Liz

Author:  Miss Di [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

I do hope Miss Rogerson is going to tell the HM she has come across Theodora in a previous life?

Author:  Emma A [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

One can see where Miss Rogerson is coming from - she's got no reason to expect that Theodora would have changed, and to see her now, unexpectedly, has probably completely upset her equilibrium, making her less than fair. Looking forward to how this goes, Liz.

Love the moving paintings prank, though!

BTW Elmhurst School is a ballet school now associated with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, according to their website (google Elmhurst School).

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

Well, Miss Rogerson has got a valid point - in some spots - though I can understand why the headmistress wouldn't have told the staff - to avoid just this reaction!

Now it will automatically be assumed that everything is Ted's fault. Poor Ted, it must have been doubly horrible when Margot tried to blackmail her, because she must have been so sure she'd get the blame.

Thankyou.

Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

Thanks for the drabble.
Elmhurst is as Emma A said a ballet and theatre school in real life. It moved from Southern England to very near me several years ago. It was the comment Bettina made that Theodora was old to be starting there that made me think it might be the real life school.
Glad it is fictional school as the thought of Theodora starting ballet at fourteen was worrying as she would have little chance of achieving the standard of girls who had started at eight or nine and was set up to fail by more than a former teacher knowing her.
I thought it a funny choice for the Trustees and more in line with her mother's choices.

Author:  Abi [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

I can see Miss Rogerson's point of view - it must have been a sinking moment when she realised she'd have to cope with her most difficult pupil again, especially if she had poor back-up from the Head. But poor Ted; she won't have a chance to make good here :( .

Thanks, Liz.

Author:  Nightwing [ Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

I don't think Theodora's prank seemed so very awful - it does seem Miss Rogerson seem a little wet! I'm not sure she's cut out to be a teacher, really... and poor Theodora, that the mistress she meets just happens to be one that holds a grudge. I hoper her Headmistress is at least a little understanding :(

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Sept

“Right,” said Miss Rogerson, “finish putting your things into your case, Theodora, and don’t hold us up any further. You will have to dry your things when you get to school. You shouldn’t have been on the beach in the first place. You should have waited here for the coach.”

Another woman, about the same age as Miss Rogerson, but with blonde hair scooped into a bun, came hurrying across the road. “Is there a problem, Miss Rogerson?” she asked. “What has happened to your things, child?” she asked Theodora.

“They got thrown into the sea,” said Theodora sulkily. There was no hope of justice now, she knew, with Miss Rogerson here. Miss Rogerson would assume the worst and treat her as if she’d flung the stuff into the sea herself!

“By whom?” the other escort mistress asked.

“By a boy,” Bettina interjected. She’d looked baffled by Miss Rogerson’s recognition of Theodora, but seemed determined to speak up for the other girl. “We went over to the sea for a paddle – it was so hot! – and this horrible boy stamped on his sisters’ sandcastle and wrecked it, and when Theodora told him off he threw her things into the sea as retaliation.”

“Goodness,” said the second mistress. “What a lot to happen on your way to school! And your names are … ?”

“Bettina Charlton,” said Bettina.

“Ah! I’ve heard of you!” said the mistress. “Your guardian is Helena Gordon’s brother, isn’t he? I remember Nell Gordon well – she was a prefect at Elmhurst when I was a junior! I doubt she’d remember me, though,” she went on. “I was so much younger and I never got into trouble with the prefects, so I don’t suppose she’d even remember my name. I’m Miss Scott,” she said, “and I teach Maths at Elmhurst. And your name … ?” she said, turning to Theodora with a friendly smile.

“This,” said Miss Rogerson grimly, “is Theodora Grantley, whom I’ve had the misfortune to encounter in the past, before she was deservedly expelled from my last school. And believe me, Miss Scott, with Theodora involved, there’s bound to be more to this suitcase business than meets the eye!”

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

Oh now that was profoundly unfair - not only to mention it at all, but to do so in front of both staff and the rest of the girls. Ted doesn't have a chance to make good now, the staff will continually be expecting trouble and so will the girls. Wasn't it the headmistress from this school who wrote to Miss Annersley to say she felt Ted just needed a chance? Hope she (Elmhurst head) recognises that at least one of her staff is not suited to her post.


Thanks Liz.

Author:  Alison H [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

Oh poor Ted!

Author:  jmc [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

What an unprofessional mistress! You just don't do that sort of thing.
Poor Ted. :cry:

Author:  JS [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

I hope Miss Scott slaps that teacher down - what a thing to say in front of everyone.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

What an awful thing to do! Though I'm sure that she feels justified in "making sure Theodora doesn't get into any more mischeif".

Thankyou.

Author:  Emma A [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

*pokes Miss Rogerson with a sharp stick*

Thank-you, Liz.

Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

Miss Scott seems nice. I hope she is fairer than Miss Rogerson who seem very unsuited for teaching.

Author:  Jennie [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

totally unprofessional to say that there.

Author:  Abi [ Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

That's awful and totally unfair to Ted. I hope Miss Scott gives her a chance.

Author:  lizarfau [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Sept

“Come along, Theodora,” said Miss Scott, feeling uncomfortable. “Let’s get you and your case onto the coach.”

Theodora picked up her case and followed the two mistresses and Bettina across the road. She was furious with Miss Rogerson for letting out her secret like that. She’d been told the girls wouldn’t be told about her past. Now Bettina knew, she’d surely tell the others.

Miss Scott showed Theodora and Bettina two vacant seats towards the middle of the bus. “Dina Hilton,” she said to a pretty girl with long blonde hair. “These are Bettina Charlton and Theodora Grantley, two new girls – could you and Philippa look after them, please.”

“Of course, Miss Scott,” said Dina cheerfully. “Sit next to me, Bettina, and Phil, you go over there and sit with Theodora.”

Miss Scott watched them settle down into their seats and then headed for her own seat, next to Miss Rogerson, behind the driver. “We’re all on board now,” she told the driver, “so you can leave whenever you’re ready.” She lowered her voice. “That was unnecessary,” she told Miss Rogerson.

“What was?”

“What you said about the new girl.”

“Hardly unnecessary, I assure you. We should all have been warned that she was coming. She’s not exactly the kind of girl we want at Elmhurst.”

“If the head didn’t tell us, she had our reasons – and they’d have been good ones,” said Miss Scott. “It’s bad enough that you’ve told me – but to say it in front of one of the girls! That was disgraceful.” Miss Caldecott, she thought, would have plenty to say to Miss Rogerson when they got back to school.

Theodora was, of course, oblivious to the conversation, and assumed that Miss Scott would have it in for her now, just like Miss Rogerson. Bettina didn’t lose time in asking her about what Miss Rogerson had said. “Were you really expelled from her last school?” she asked across the aisle.

“Yes,” said Theodora defiantly, “I was expelled from there and was asked to leave the one I went to before that.”

“Gosh, really?” said Dina, looking interested. “What did you do?”

“You must have done something really bad to be expelled,” said Philippa, a red-headed, freckle-faced girl.

Theodora was reluctant to go into detail, but Dina, Philippa and Bettina quickly persuaded her.

“Do tell us!”

“We really want to know! I’ve never met anyone who was actually expelled before.”

“Gosh, I’m so glad you’ve joined us this term. I bet you’ll liven up boring old Elmhurst no end!”

And so she started to tell them some of her stories, and they listened, enthralled, for most of the journey to Dorset.

Author:  Miss Di [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

Miss Rogerson should be expelled too! I can't believe she said that!!! Still, no wonder Theodora gets into trouble at Elmherst if the girls are impressed by her previous behavior.

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

That's the reason Ted's history wasn't made known at the CS - they knew there would be girls willing to worship her. Glad Miss Scott reprimanded Miss Roderson.


Thanks Liz

Author:  Alison H [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

Well said Miss Scott, but it's so easy to see how knowing Ted'd been expelled from her previous school could've attracted the "naughty" element at her new school.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

Pleased that Miss Scott stood up for her, but poor Ted, surely everyone will know now.

Thankyou.

Author:  Abi [ Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

And of course now they won't let her even try to just settle down - they'll just expect her to be bad and she'll probably try to live up to it.

:hammer: Miss Rogerson.

Author:  lizarfau [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Sept

The school looked quite nice, Theodora thought, as the coach turned into the gates – much better than the places her mother had chosen! The school itself was a large Victorian mansion, which, Dina and Phil had told her, actually had a real secret passage but it had never been found. Theodora, who had read lots of adventure stories involving secret passages, was determined to find it. But, as she looked out of the window now, the things that caught her eye were the hockey pitch and tennis courts … she’d started learning hockey at the Beehive, but they hadn’t played it at Warleigh. Too unladylike for Warleigh, by far … there they’d preferred accomplishments, like riding. It would be super to start playing it again here.

They all got off the coach and collected their cases. Despite the heat of the day, Theodora’s was still sodden. Miss Scott told the girls which dormitories they were in, and said to Dina, “Theodora and Bettina are in Lapwing, with you and Phil. Show them up there, please.”

“What about my night-case, Miss Scott?” asked Theodora.

“Hmm, yes – well, hopefully your trunk has arrived and you won’t need your things. In any case, you’ll need to take them to Matron and she can arrange for your clothes to go into the laundry and for your case to be cleaned up. Actually, let me do that for you, Theodora, then I can explain to her what happened. Go up to your dormitory with Dina, and see if your trunk is there. If it hasn’t arrived, we’ll have to sort something out for you in terms of underclothes and so forth for a couple of days.”

Relieved that Miss Scott was treating her so kindly, Theodora thanked her and followed Dina and Phil into the school. Dina led the way along a polished corridor to a staircase. “Up here,” she said. “We’re not allowed to use the main staircase – only mistresses and prefects can do that. We always use the side stairs to go to our dormy.”

The dormitory was up on the top floor, and held six cubicles. Theodora was shown to her windowless cubicle, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her trunk had been placed beside her bed. Dina quickly introduced Theodora and Bettina to the two other girls in the room they hadn’t met. “This is Kathleen Cunningham, who was our form captain last year and probably will be again,” she said, introducing a sturdy, serious-looking girl with a long, fair plait. “And this is her great friend Isobelle Chadwick.” Isobelle was a very tall girl, who wore her dark hair in a pony tail, and smiled shyly at Theodora and Bettina.

“Welcome to Elmhurst,” said Kathleen, with a friendly smile. “I’m sure you’ll both love it here. We all do, don’t we, Issy?”

“Yes,” said Isobelle, with another shy smile.

“Issy’s always shy with strangers,” commented Phil. “But when you’ve been here for a day or two, she’ll chat away to you like she’s known you for years.”

“Both your trunks have arrived,” said Kathleen, “so you’ll need to get on with unpacking. We have to finish before supper – and Matron comes round to inspect later, so make sure you put everything away tidily! Have you ever been to boarding-school before, either of you?”

“No,” said Bettina.

Theodora wasn’t sure what to say. She had a feeling that Kathleen and Isobelle wouldn’t be as impressed by her expulsions as Dina and Phil had been. But she couldn’t lie, so she said, “Yes.”

“Oh, well, you’ll soon settle in then,” said Kathleen. “It’ll be strange at first, Bettina, but you’ll soon get used to it. We’ll all help you – both of you – all we can.”

Theodora began her unpacking, pleased that Dina, Phil or Bettina hadn’t piped up about her expulsions. Miss Rogerson, though, who had headed straight for the staff room while Miss Scott went to smooth things over for Theodora with Matron, was finding plenty to say about Theodora’s school record.

Author:  Chelsea [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

Well she's a right cow isn't she (Miss Rogerson, not Theodore - in case there is any doubt).

Sadly, we know that Miss Scott wasn't successful in her attempt to make things better for Theodora.

Author:  Alison H [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

It's just about possible Miss Rogerson thinks she's being helpful by "warning" the other staff about Theodora, but she's not! Poor Ted :( .

Author:  Lesley [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

What's so sad is that if Miss Rogerson had not been there - or had kept her mouth shut - it's likely that Ted would have made a good start and not misbehaved at all...

Of course then she wouldn't have gone to the Chalet School and risen to the heights of Second Prefect!!!! :lol:


Thanks Liz.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

It's lovely that Ted seems to be settling in to this school, and that not everybody yet knows about her expulsions - hopefully the staff won't be prejudiced by it.

Thankyou.

Author:  jmc [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

I know when we get new students transferring we get told which ones are coming with a chequered past but are not told most of the main details. It is just so we can keep an eye on them. Many of them find that the change of school and often friendship groups works well for them and they settle down well. I feel that Miss Rogerson though will not allow Ted try and redeem herself and will actively try and make trouble for her.

Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

Miss Rogerson has not listened to Miss Scott, hope the head catches her and says something quickly.

Author:  lizarfau [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Sept

“Well, really,” said Miss Sanderson, the Latin mistress. “What can the Head be thinking of, accepting a girl like that here at Elmhurst?” She helped herself to a biscuit from the barrel that Miss Rogerson was passing around. All of the teaching staff – with the exception of Miss Scott, who was still with Matron – were relaxing in armchairs in the staff room, listening to what Miss Rogerson had to say about the new girl, Theodora Grantley.

Miss Sanderson reacted with more horror than most. She had been a teacher at Elmhurst for twenty-five years, but despite that struggled to maintain discipline in her classes. She rarely got through a day’s teaching without one of her forms ragging her in some way. The thought of a really wayward girl like this Theodora sounded made her quake in her shoes. She knew Miss Caldecott only kept her on because she’d been at Elmhurst for so many years, and felt sorry for her.

“I suppose she has to attend some school,” said Miss Barker, the English mistress. “And why not Elmhurst? Everything Maybelle has ever told us about Warleigh sounds simply awful – no law and order at all! And did you say she was at the Beehive before that, Maybelle?”

Miss Rogerson nodded.

“My parents have neighbours whose daughters went there, and goodness me, it sounds almost as bad as Warleigh. Elmhurst is a very different kettle of fish to what this child has encountered before – being expected to work hard and play hard will be the making of her.”

“I shouldn’t be so sure of that, Daphne,” Miss Rogerson began, but was interrupted by the opening of the staff room door and the entrance of Miss Scott.

“Ah, come in, Scotty!” said Miss Barker. “Maybelle here is just alerting us to one of our new girls – ”

“Not Theodora Grantley?” Miss Scott glared at Miss Rogerson. “After what I said on the coach? How could you, Maybelle?”

“I think we all need to be warned,” said Miss Sanderson. “From what Maybelle sounds, she makes our young demons seem like archangels. I don’t know what the Head – ”

“What the Head what?” asked Miss Caldecott herself, entering the room behind Miss Scott.

Author:  Lesley [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

I do hope that Miss Caldecott will be as annoyed as Miss Scott with Maybelle Rogerson - while I can understand the school teachers perhaps feeling they need to know about a new girl's character - some of them seem unprepared to even give her a chance. :banghead:


Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

She could have at least waited and cleared it with the head first! Talk about giving a dog a bad name...

Thankyou, I hope things get better for Ted soon.

Author:  Alison H [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

Hopefully the Head will tell them to give her a chance, but it sounds as if it may already be too late.

Author:  jmc [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

As we already know that Ted will be asked to leave I hope she comes up with an ingenious way to pay back Miss Rogerson.

Author:  Lesley [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

I do seem to remember something about a letter from the Head to Miss Annersley saying she didn't feel Ted was all bad and hoped she would be able to make good at the CS.

Author:  MaryR [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

Interestingly, in the paper today, it was said that once children get a bad name as a trouble maker - even as young as 3 or 4 - it sticks with them throughout their schooling, even when they change schools. I can vouch for this, having heard some lurid tales in staff rooms where I've taught. The same children are picked on time and time again. Clearly, Miss Rogerson is one such teacher, as are most of the others, judging by their comments before Miss Scott and then the Head make their entrances. I fear the damage is already done.

Thanks, Liz

Author:  Abi [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

That's awful - poor Ted. So glad she finally got a real chance at the CS. Thanks Liz.

Author:  Squirrel [ Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

Oh dear! This is not a good start for Theodora. And *what* a nasty mistress to have it in for her. Just a horrid reception all round.

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 21 Sept

“Oh, Maybelle,” said Miss Caldecott, distressed. “Didn’t you receive my letter?”

“Your letter? No, I didn’t,” answered Miss Rogerson.

“Oh, dear, the post must have gone astray. It’s too bad,” said Miss Caldecott. “I wrote to you to tell you one of your former pupils was coming to Elmhurst, and to ask you to say nothing to anyone about her past. I wanted her to have a proper new start, poor child – ”

“Poor child?” exclaimed Miss Rogerson. “I would hardly – ”

“She has had an unhappy life so far, Maybelle,” said Miss Caldecott, glaring at her art mistress. “And I’m hoping we can make her life happier at Elmhurst. Well, all of you know now,” she went on, looking around at the rest of her staff, “and that can’t be helped. But do, all of you, give her a chance. She’s a clever girl, by all accounts, and I’m sure she could make good here if we give her a chance to. I’d have preferred her past to be a secret, but at least the girls don’t know, and – ”

“But they do,” interrupted Miss Scott. “Maybelle here confronted Theodora with her history the minute she set eyes on her – in front of one of the other girls too. I should think the news is halfway around the school by now.”

Miss Caldecott turned in horror to Miss Rogerson, who blushed, and murmured, “I’m so sorry, Miss Caldecott – I was taken by surprise. If I’d received your letter – ” She tried to sound contrite, but inwardly she was fuming. How dare Miss Scott give her away like that? And why should she be lectured by the head mistress all because of an impossible child like Theodora Grantley?

*


Up in Lapwing, the girls were still unpacking and Theodora and Bettina were being told all about life at Elmhurst by the old girls. The winter term was the best term, Kathleen was telling them eagerly. There was the Christmas play at the end of term. And hockey matches against other schools. “We’re aiming to win the inter-schools county league championship this year,” said Kathleen. “We finished fourth last year. Are you two good at hockey?”

“I play,” said Bettina, “but I wouldn’t say I was good exactly. The standard here is pretty high, from what I’ve heard.”

“Practise hard and you might get into the team,” said Kathleen. “What about you, Theodora?”

“I started to learn a few years ago,” said Theodora, “but I haven’t played for ages. I’m looking forward to playing again, though! I loved it.”

“Did you play it at your first school?” asked Dina with a giggle. Phil and Bettina laughed too.

Kathleen frowned. “What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Theodora here’s been expelled from two schools,” said Dina. “Including one Miss Rogerson taught at before she came here.”

Theodora saw Kathleen’s frown deepen and caught Isobelle’s dismayed expression. She flushed; if only Dina hadn’t said anything. Still, it wasn’t her fault really – it was Miss Rogerson’s.

“What were you expelled for?” Kathleen asked.

“Ragging mostly,” Theodora muttered.

“Ragging? Anything else?”

“No. Just … ragging.” Theodora concentrated on putting some clothes in one of her drawers, wishing the trustees had checked out staff lists before deciding to send her here.

“Well, that’s not so bad, I suppose,” said Kathleen. “At least you weren’t expelled for being dishonest.”
“And she can liven up lessons no end,” said Phil happily. “What larks we can have in Sandy’s Latin lessons now!”

“What were you saying about activities this term?” said Theodora abruptly. “The Christmas play, hockey … ”

“There’s gymnastics too,” said Isobelle shyly. “The school gym cup is held this term, and the top-placed girls go on to represent Elmhurst at the inter-school cup next term. Are you keen on gym, Theodora?”

“We just did drill at the Beehive and ballet at Warleigh,” said Theodora. “What do you have to do in it?”

“Vault, uneven bars, balance beam and a floor exercise, just like at the Olympics,” said Isobelle. “Our PT teacher, Miss Lynton, used to be a gymnast and she went to the Olympics. She’s dead keen on training us, and our team did really well last year. If you did ballet, you might be good at it, Theodora.”

“Issy’s our star gymnast,” said Kathleen. “She was the only one in our form to get into the team last year.”

“What else do we do?” said Dina. “Well, there’s the debating society and country dancing and – ”

But Theodora had stopped listening. The gymnastics sounded interesting. And she remembered reading newspaper reports about the women’s gymnastics at the last Olympics – the journalists had said the Soviet girls’ ballet training made them excellent gymnasts. If only she could get into the team! It would be so good to make a name for herself at this school for something that wasn’t just ragging …

Author:  Alison H [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Glad that Miss Caldecott's willing to give Ted a chance, but unfortunately it seems as if Miss Rogerson's now going to blame Ted for the fact that she got a lecture in front of her colleagues.

Author:  Emma A [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Agreeing with Alison about this. I like Theodora musing on the gymnastics - didn't she prove best at rope-climbing in one of the Sports Days at the Chalet School? It's all so believable.

I'm really enjoying this, Liz - many thanks.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Pleased that they've been told to give her a chance, but the girls don't seem so keen to let her start afresh. Hopefully she won't be pushed into anything too bad (well, we know she sort of will, but hopefully nothing really awful)

Thankyou

Author:  JS [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Poor Ted - hope she gets at least some triumphs before the inevitable...

That Maybelle deserves a slap.

Author:  jmc [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Poor Ted. She really had no hope did she. Hope that Miss Rogerson is only there on trial and that Miss Coldecott decides that she is not suitable for Elmhurst.

Author:  Squirrel [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

I really love the fact that Theodora is making all these good resolutions, despite the girls knowing about her rocky path, and are expecting her to 'liven' up lessons somewhat.

I wish I could lynch that teacher though. She sounds a complete nightmare, regardless of how badly she had been behaved at her last school, the teacher seems to have a real grudge. Poor Theodora.

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

Quote:
Miss Caldecott turned in horror to Miss Rogerson, who blushed, and murmured, “I’m so sorry, Miss Caldecott – I was taken by surprise. If I’d received your letter – ” She tried to sound contrite, but inwardly she was fuming. How dare Miss Scott give her away like that? And why should she be lectured by the head mistress all because of an impossible child like Theodora Grantley?


Erm, and what have you done ever since you laid eyes on Ted? You've given her no chance whatsoever and, unlike you, Ted had done nothing wrong.

Another hoping Miss Rogerson will be given the 'heave-ho'


Thanks Liz

Author:  Abi [ Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

I hope Ted manages to show she's not all bad, even if it doesn't end up well.

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 22 Sept

The rest of the day passed very quickly. Miss Caldecott insisted that everyone went to bed early on the first night, so Theodora found herself back in the dormitory after supper, feeling surprisingly tired. It had been a long day. She had met a bunch of other girls at supper – Rosemary, Anwen, Linda, Selina – and had been surprised by how awestruck they’d seemed when Dina had informed them she’d been expelled from two schools already.

“But I’m not trying to be expelled from a third,” Theodora had responded.

“Well, you’d better not be a goody-goody or we won’t actually believe you’ve been expelled,” said Phil.

“So what are your plans as far as livening up our lessons go?” asked Dina.
“Look, I wasn’t thinking – ” Theodora pushed her bread and butter to one side, no longer hungry.

“Eat up!” the sixth-form girl at the head of the table had told her firmly. “You don’t leave food on your plate here. If you didn’t want the bread and butter, you shouldn’t have taken it.”

“I’m sorry – I didn’t realise,” said Theodora. “At my last school, we could leave whatever we wanted.”

“I see,” said the sixth-former. “What a dreadful kind of school that sounds. You’ll find things are very different here, I’m sure. Eat up, please, and no arguments.”

Theodora picked up the bread and butter and nibbled at part of it. When the sixth-former started talking to Kathleen about something else, Theodora shoved the remainder into her pocked. Blowed if she was going to eat when she wasn’t hungry!

Dina, beside her, giggled appreciatively. “Good for you,” she said to Theodora. “Lucinda’s always been far too bossy. She’ll be even worse now she’s in the sixth and probably a prefect as well. The prefects will be announced tomorrow. Gosh, I hope she’s not head girl. That would be awful.”

Now, back in the dormitory, Theodora went over to the window in Dina’s cubicle, opened it and broke the remaining bread and butter into crumbs, which she dropped onto the window sill.

“I hope you do plan some stunts now you’re at Elmhurst,” said Dina. “I’m sure you could take someone like Lucinda down a peg or two if you tried it.”

This was going to be so awkward, thought Theodora with a sigh. She didn’t want to be expelled from a third school, and yet it seemed that to be accepted among these girls she was going to have to rag a little. Surely there was something she could do that would make the girls admire her but at the same time not get her into too much trouble?

“Tell me about that secret passage, Dina,” she said. “Whereabouts in the school haven’t you looked for it?”

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

Uh-oh! What's Ted planning now? How sad that she feels she has to rag - she should just put her foot down and refuse to get involved.

Thankyou.

Author:  jmc [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

What a horrible situation to be in. On one hand to feel that she already has the staff against her and on the other to feel as that she has to muck around or possibly face having no friends. :(

Author:  Squirrel [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

Poor Ted, oops, my apologies, poor Theodora. That's *not* a good start to things. And she looks like she feels she's being pushed into it. Poor kid, wanting to be part of a crowd, but having her stupid former mistress more or less push her into a role she didn't want this time around. Sounds like she really could do with the CS view - that she really *was* a silly ass, and they don't want too much of that kind of thing here, thanks! :wink:

Author:  Alison H [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

It's so easy to see how this is happening.

Author:  Abi [ Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

So sad that Ted feels she has to rag. I guess the girls just want a little fun - they don't see how it will look to the staff, given that they know her history.

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 4:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

The problem is, at her age, she will try to fit in with the other girls - even if it means getting into trouble. Had Miss Rogerson kept her mouth shut the other girls would never know about her past and therefore never expect a certain type of behaviour.


Thanks Liz

Author:  lizarfau [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Sept

The first few days, however, were far too busy for Theodora to give much thought to the secret passage. She had to find her way around the school, learn the names of the various mistresses as well as her form mates, and get used to Elmhurst’s academic timetable, which was a far cry from Warleigh’s. She was placed in the Lower Fourth, along with Bettina, Dina, Phil and the others from her dormitory, and was pleased to see that Miss Scott was her form mistress. She’d taken a liking to Miss Scott, who’d been so kind to her on her first day. Miss Scott told her that she was a little behind in some subjects, but that she had brains and would be able to catch up as long as she worked hard.

In the first Assembly of term, Miss Caldecott had announced the prefects, and everyone had clapped when a girl called Bernadette McLaughlin had been handed the head girl’s badge. “Oh, Bernie’s super,” Dina enthused. “She’s by far the nicest of that sixth-form crowd – I’m so glad she’s head girl!” She was soon grimacing, however, when Lucinda Bailey was announced as games prefect. “That’ll ruin games for this year,” she said. “Who wants to get into the hockey team now and be bossed around by Lucinda?”

Theodora definitely wanted to get into the hockey team, Lucinda or no Lucinda. She loved all games and was looking forward to playing them here. On her third day at school, they had PT in the gym with Miss Lynton, a small, slim, graceful-looking woman, who told Lower Fourth that this term they would learn gymnastics on Thursday afternoons and hockey on Monday afternoons. As it was Thursday, they began with gymnastics.

They all began by climbing the ropes, and Miss Lynton was impressed when Theodora was the first to reach the top of hers. “You’re very strong for your size, Theodora,” she told the girl. “Have you done much gym?” When Theodora said she hadn’t, but had learned ballet in her last school, she said, “Then you should do very well at gym. Let’s see how you go on the mat.” Theodora’s cartwheels, handstands and rolls found favour with Miss Lynton as well, and Theodora glowed at the praise she received.

“Next week we’ll do some vaulting,” said Miss Lynton. “And if you’re interested in going in for the gym cup, I’m running some coaching sessions on Tuesday evenings. Would you like to join in?”

“Oh, yes,” said Theodora eagerly.

“Good. Well, you can come along with Isobelle. I’m sure she’ll be glad to have a fellow gymnast in her form!”

“We work on bars and beam in coaching,” said Isobelle as they left the gym and walked back to the main school for their final lesson of the day, Maths. “Miss Lynton’s a smashing coach – you’ll love her.”

In Maths, Miss Scott handed back their prep from the previous night, and gave Theodora a smile and a brief, “Not bad, Theodora. I can see you’ve worked hard on it.” Theodora was beginning to think Elmhurst wasn’t turning out to be so bad after all, but Friday morning brought Art with Miss Rogerson.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Pleased to see that Ted is settling down in some subjects and might have a couple of allys on the staff. I hope that art goes ok - though I suspect from the mini-cliff that it won't!

Thankyou for such a welcome break from studying :D

Author:  Emma A [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Oh dear, I can imagine that this won't go well, though how nice that some of the other teachers are trying to ignore her past career of naughtiness! Isobelle sounds nice, too (and possibly not one of the raggers).

Thanks, Liz - always look forward to updates of this!

Author:  Squirrel [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

I'm pleased to hear how well Theodora has managed to do in her first few classes here - but the first art class *does* sound ominous.

Thank you!

Author:  shazwales [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Thanks really enjoying this!Can't you bump the idiot mistress off??? :D

Author:  JS [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

That sounds ominous, poor Ted.

Author:  Miss Di [ Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

I think Miss nasty needs a classic girls fiction type accident - a fall followed by a year or so of bed rest is sure to do wonders for her personallity! :devil:

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Have just caught up on all the updates. Thanks. It sounds like Elmshurst could have been the best thing for Ted if only Miss Rogerson had of given her a chance.

Author:  Lesley [ Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Yes, she would have done well had Miss Rogerson not been there, :banghead:


Thanks Liz

Author:  leahbelle [ Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

It is a shame that Miss Rogerson didn't give her a break there. The art class also looms ominously!

Author:  Abi [ Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

It's nice to see Ted settling down well. It's such a shame her chance has been taken away from her.

Author:  mohini [ Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

Love the story.
Thanks Liz.
Why are there many problems in Art class?
Joey, Polly, Blossom, There were more girls I do not remember the names.

Author:  lizarfau [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 24 Sept

“What did you do to make Miss Rogerson dislike you so much, Theodora?” Dina asked at breakfast on Friday morning. “I know you were expelled from the school she taught at, but she really seems to loathe you – as if you’d done something really bad to her.”

“In her eyes, I probably did,” replied Theodora. She told Dina about moving the pictures around and Dina, and everyone else within earshot, laughed.

“You know,” said Phil, “a lot of mistresses would see the funny side of that, eventually. And some, like Sandy, for example, wouldn’t notice at all, they’re so involved in their own little world.”

“Miss Rogerson takes art very seriously, though,” said Kathleen.

“Miss Rogerson,” said Dina, “takes everything very seriously. I bet you’re not looking forward to having Art with her again, Theodora.”

“Not really,” Theodora admitted. Art came straight after break today, and she was dreading it. She knew that, as Dina had said, Miss Rogerson really loathed her. Even if she sat quietly in Art classes and did exactly as she was told all the time, she probably still wouldn’t please Miss Rogerson. She sighed.

“Cheer up,” said Bettina. “It won’t be that bad.”

Before Break the Lower Fourth had English followed by Maths. Theodora worked diligently, determinedly ignoring the note-passing that was happening between Phil and Dina during English. Then Break came and, along with Dina, Phil and Bettina, Theodora hurried outside to make the most of the September sunshine. They sat on the grass under one of the trees talking about the weekend. For a short time, Theodora forgot about Art as the four of them discussed plans for trying to find the secret passage.

As soon as she set foot in the Art room, though, Theodora knew something was very wrong. Miss Rogerson was standing at the front of the room, looking furious. Some of the girls started giggling as the Lower Fourth trailed into the classroom. “Oh, golly,” said Dina, as they entered. “Someone’s switched all her pictures around.”

“Theodora,” said Miss Rogerson sharply. “You wait there beside the door please, and when I’ve set this class some work, we’re going to see Miss Caldecott.”

“She can’t think you – ” gasped Dina.

“You’ve been with us all the time,” said Bettina.

“Be quiet, the rest of you,” said Miss Rogerson. “I want you all to sit down, take out your art pads, and start drawing a picture of your bedroom at home. Now, Theodora, I want you to come with me. I’d have thought you’d have learnt your lesson after the last time you did this to me, but clearly you didn’t. We’ll find out what Miss Caldecott thinks about your joke, shall we?

Author:  Squirrel [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

Um... What!?! Talk about making a complete assumption. So, someone played the 'giddy goat' and because at her last school, lets be fair, she would have most likely have had a finger in the pie, it has to be Theodora who did it???

And what about it being her first week of school? I'm quite sure that she bided her time before acting out in her last school. And I'm also sure that she can see that this place is a rather different proposition as well...

Poor girl - whisked off to the head, without being given a half chance to defend herself. :banghead:

What a nasty bit of work that teacher is.

Thank you.

Author:  jmc [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

I hope the head believes Ted but fear that if she does if will set Miss Rogerson against Ted even further. Thanks for the update.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

As jmc says, whichever way this goes, it's just going to cause more problems between the two.

:poke: Miss Rogerson.

Author:  Alison H [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

Unfortunately, some teachers do take dislikes to individuals and blame them for everything. We had an English teacher at school who used to say "Be quiet, Lisa," every time she heard a noise, even if the noise was coming from the opposite end of the room to which poor Lisa was sitting!

Author:  JS [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

Poor Ted - which of her so-called new friends was responsible for that piece of mischief, I wonder. And will they own up, CS-style?

Author:  alicat [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

Quote:
We had an English teacher at school who used to say "Be quiet, Lisa," every time she heard a noise, even if the noise was coming from the opposite end of the room to which poor Lisa was sitting!


Oh know what you mean...can still recall the day my hated needlework teacher, who also happened to be my form teacher, said, without looking up, "RachelanAlison stop talking"....

and after a beat of silence someone said "But Miss, Rachel's not here today".

And it wasn't me, anyway!!!!

Author:  Abi [ Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

Oh poor Ted. That was so unfair - though in a way, I suppose, understandable. But she should at least have given Ted an chance to defend herself - I hope Miss Caldecott will.

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 12 Oct

It didn’t take Miss Caldecott long to work out that Theodora couldn’t possibly have moved the pictures in the art room. “The girl had never even set foot in that room before,” she told Miss Rogerson severely later. It didn’t take her long, either, to discover the real culprits – a couple of members of Upper Third, who’d overheard the conversation at breakfast and thought it would be a hugely funny joke to change the pictures and annoy Miss Rogerson.

“But we didn’t mean to get you into trouble,” said Phyllis Symonds to Theodora at lunchtime. “We didn’t think she’d decide it must be you! Why, you don’t even know your way around the school yet.”

Miss Caldecott was annoyed with Miss Rogerson, and told her that evening that her behaviour towards the new girl had been outrageous from the moment she’d seen her on the first day of term. “If there is any more of this, then I have no option but to dismiss you from your post,” she told Miss Rogerson. “I want to hear no more negative comments either about Theodora or to her. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” mumbled Miss Rogerson. But inwardly she was seething – if Miss Caldecott had known Theodora in the past, the way she had, she too would undoubtedly have suspected her of playing the trick. Well, she thought, she’d play things Miss Caldecott’s way, for she could ill afford to lose her job. She’d keep quiet about Theodora and she wouldn’t comment about her previous behaviour any more. But in the end, Miss Caldecott would be the one apologising to her. “Bad blood will out,” she said, in the privacy of her own room. “Soon, I’ll be the only one not making negative comments about that wretched girl.”

Miss Caldecott also spoke privately to Theodora. “It’s unfortunate that you were blamed for something you hadn’t done,” she said, “but you must understand, Theodora, that bad reputations are easy to acquire – but not so easy to get rid of. In the circumstances, it was natural that Miss Rogerson should blame you. You’re going to have to work very hard at acquiring a good reputation – but I’m sure you can do it!” she finished with a smile.

Why bother, thought Theodora as she left Miss Caldecott’s room. She would always be blamed for everything that went wrong at this school, as long as Miss Rogerson was there. Well, if Miss Rogerson wanted to blame her for things, then she’d jolly well make sure she was responsible for what she was being blamed for. Over the weekend, she’d find that secret passage, and use it to play a good joke on everybody. And she’d spend the next week thinking of something that would really make Miss Rogerson look like a fool in Art.

Author:  Nightwing [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Poor Theodora - if she'd only decided to make an effort perhaps she would have been able to lose her bad reputation after all. Still, I can hardly blame her! And Miss Rogerson is so understanding; she's really lovely.

Author:  jmc [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

I'm glad Miss Rogerson was told to leave Ted alone but it will be difficult for her to change to attitude. And Ted is not going to make it easy for her to do so. Ted could so easily have succeeded at this school

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

You can't really blame Theodora, she's been blamed for everything so far - what chance has she of settling down. And she would not have known of the Head's conversation with Miss Rogerson.

At least the Head recognised that Theodora (good grief I can see what Joey meant about that name now!) had a lot of good in her and just needed a decent chance.


Thanks jmc

Author:  JS [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Poor Ted - you can really see why it would happen, can't you? I keep having to tell myself it's good, really, that it doesn't work out because then she ends up at the CS. Then I remember the miserable time that Margot gave her and feel sorry again.

Thanks for the update - looking forward to more :) .

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Hopefully she'll learn that Miss Caldecott is correct in what she says, which would explain her attitude at the CS, but I fear that it's going to be a tough journey getting there!

Thankyou.

Author:  Squirrel [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Oh Don't Theodora! I can understand *why* but... And why couldn't Miss Caldecott admit that even given all that she has said so far, the way that Theodora was treated wasn't right? After all, that wee bit of softening to her might have made all the difference in her eventual decision to 'play the giddy goat' here.

What a horrible situation!

Thank you.

Author:  Alison H [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Glad Miss Caldecott's prepared to be fair, but it doesn't look as if that''ll be enough.

Author:  Emma A [ Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Miss Caldecott is lovely, but perhaps too much the Headmistress (and she presumably has to back up, to a certain extent, her staff) to let Theodora know how much she sympathises. Wonder how Theodora is going to set about discovering a secret passage - might be fun!

Author:  JellySheep [ Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Oh dear. Of course, we know how this ends, but it's still sad to see how Ted ends up on the slippery slope. It will be interesting to see what happens with the secret passage though. I would give Miss Rogerson a good shake - she ought to know better. I agree that Miss Caldecott should acknowledge that it's not all Ted's fault.

Author:  Abi [ Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

This is such a shame, because Ted would probably have made good at this school if only it hadn't been for Miss Rogerson. At least we know she has a chance in the end, but still....

Thanks Liz, this is brilliant and so convincing.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

Poor Ted. I was going to say I hope things work out alright but I know it's only going to get worse

Author:  lizarfau [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 13 Oct

“So you definitely checked all of the ground floor?” asked Theodora for the hundredth time. It was Saturday morning and Kathleen and Issy had left the dormitory, leaving the other four free to discuss their plans for finding the passage.

Dina sighed. “Yes. All of the ground floor. How many times do you need to be told that?”

“We’ve tapped on every panel, looked under every rug,” Phil said.

“We’ve checked all the dormitories as well,” said Dina. “Even the head girl’s bedroom. We sneaked in one day when she was in a prefects’ meeting.”

“What about the kitchens?” Bettina asked.

“We checked there as well,” said Dina proudly. “We sneaked out one night and looked all round the kitchens by torchlight. Nothing.”

“So where haven’t you checked?” asked Theodora impatiently. “There must be somewhere.”

“Just the mistresses’ bedrooms,” said Dina, with a sigh. “That’s just too difficult. They’re up on the top floor and there’s always someone up there.”

“What about during lessons?” asked Theodora.

“Well, I suppose the bedrooms would be empty, but … ”

“But what?”

“But we’re in lessons, aren’t we? We can’t just disappear for the time it would take to do a thorough explanation. And there’s always the risk one of the mistresses would be up there; have a free period … ”

“There’s Assembly,” said Phil. “All the mistresses are at Assembly. But then Scotty would notice if we were missing … ”

“What if I pretended to be sick,” said Theodora.

“You’d be sent to Matron,” said Dina.

“Yes, and then I came back to class later saying I was fine. Would Scotty check?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure. But you couldn’t do it on your own,” Dina said. “You’d need someone to play cave.”

“And you can’t check all the mistresses’ bedrooms in twenty minutes,” Phil pointed out.

This was all true, but Theodora didn’t want to give up on the idea. “I could make a start,” she said obstinately.

“All right, you make a start,” said Dina. “But there’s got to be a better way of doing it. Staff meeting! That’s it!”

“When’s that?” Theodora asked.

“They have one every Monday night. The prefects are on duty, then, but we could probably sneak past a prefect and get to the top floor. The four of us could go through the rooms then. We’d have at least an hour.”

“What if the bedrooms are locked?” asked Bettina.

“They probably won’t be,” said Dina. “There’ll be a prefect on the staircase, making sure no-one goes up there … But one of us can distract her, get her to move away somehow, and the rest of us sneak up there.”

“Gosh,” said Theodora, “I wish Monday would hurry up and come. What shall we do today?”

“We could ask permission to go into the village and go to one of the tea shops,” said Dina.

“I’ve got a better idea,” said Bettina.

“What’s that?” Phil asked.

“Well, this secret passage … There must be more than one entrance, mustn’t there? One in the school and one to wherever it leads. So why don’t we go into the village library and see if they have any old maps and find out where the other entrance to the passage is? Then we needn’t have to search around the mistresses’ bedrooms at all.”

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

I'm really hoping that they don't get caught in the wrong room! (Or, for that matter, caught at all).

Thankyou!

Author:  Lesley [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Oh dear - it's all going to end in tears, isn't it.This school doesn't think much of honour, does it? Not when the Prefects are on guard everywhere! :lol:


Thanks Liz

Author:  JS [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Give Bettina her due, though, it's a smart idea.
I'm resisting the temptation to go to the beginning of Ted to see if this escapade figures in the headmistress's letter as I'm hoping it's all okay.

Thanks Liz

Author:  Emma A [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

They're becoming very enterprising, aren't they? :D I do rather hope they discover the secret passageway, though.

Author:  Alison H [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

It all sounds very exciting and Enid Blyton-ish :D .

Author:  Elle [ Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Just found this, and I am enjoying it very much. Thank you! Poor Ted.

Author:  jmc [ Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Hope they find the passages before Ted leaves.

Author:  Abi [ Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Oh, I hope they do find the passage! And possibly also some treasure :D .

Author:  Miss Di [ Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

I do hope they don't get sprung!

Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

This is thrilling!

Author:  mohini [ Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

Waiting eagerly for more.
Very exciting.
More More More!!

Author:  lizarfau [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 18 Oct

“Old maps? Hmm. I suppose you’re trying to find that secret passage, are you?” asked the librarian, a tall, broad lady with grey hair scraped back in a bun. “Well, you’re going to be disappointed, like many other Elmhurst girls before you!”

“You mean other Elmhurst girls have come here to look for it on maps?” asked Bettina, disappointed that her best laid plan appeared to be coming to nought.

“I do indeed. One or two Elmhurst mistresses as well!” returned the librarian. She smiled at them. “You’re welcome to look at the maps we have, but they don’t go back all that far, and no-one’s ever found anything. I’m sorry.”

“So are we,” sighed Dina. “Well, that’s that, then,” she said, turning to the other three. “Shall we go and have tea?”

“Why not?” said Phil.

“Isn’t it worth just a look anyway?” pressed Theodora.

“I really don’t think you’ll find anything,” said the librarian.

The four girls trooped out of the library and in the direction of the high street, where there were several tempting tea shops. Phil was just saying how much she fancied scones with jam and cream, when they heard someone calling out “Excuse me! Wait a moment!” behind them. They turned to see an elderly lady trying valiantly to catch up with them.

“Wonder what she wants?” said Dina. “Has someone dropped a handkerchief or something?”

“Not me,” said Theodora. “I forgot to bring one anyway.”

They waited while the lady caught up with them. She was small and frail-looking, with very white hair and vivid blue eyes. “I heard you talking in the library,” she said, “about the secret passage. I’ve got some old maps at my house – they belonged to my grandmother. I can show you where I think the passage must be – would you like to come and take a look at them? I only live just off the high street and I can certainly rustle up some tea and cakes while you’re looking!”

The four girls exchanged grins of delight. “Well, if it’s no trouble,” said Dina, “we’d love to come.”

“Then, let’s go,” said the lady. “I’m Mrs Adams, by the way. Now, tell me your names.”

Author:  Miss Di [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

STRANGER DANGER!!

Liz I am seeing Mrs Adams as a character from Arsenic and Old Lace, please post again quickly and put me out of my misery!

Author:  jmc [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Miss Di wrote:
STRANGER DANGER!!


I don't know if any people in chalet land ever heard of stranger danger as they all seem to go off with random people all the time. Looking forward to more.

Author:  Lesley [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Thanks Liz

Author:  Alison H [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Oh, CS people are always wandering off with strange men who claim to be doctors, never mind with little old ladies :lol: !

Thanks Liz.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

I'm another alarmed by the stranger!

Thankyou, though, I can't wait to see if they find the secret passage!

Author:  Abi [ Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Oh dear, I hope they don't get into trouble for going off with random people - innocent or otherwise!

Thanks Liz :D

Author:  Kathy_S [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Sounds like a cliff to me! More, please. :D

(Finally caught up, and hoping Theodora gets at least some portion of fun and success at Elmhurst, despite the wretched Miss Rogerson!)

Author:  Elle [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

*Echoes Kathy with a request for more please*


I am enjoying this very much!



:poke: Miss Rogerson

Author:  lizarfau [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 30 Oct

Sorry, I neglected this in November because of NaNoing, but am back on the job now!!! :D


Mrs Adams lived in a gorgeous old house with lots of little rooms and low ceilings. She showed them through to the kitchen and made a pot of tea while the girls pored over the two old maps that she placed on the table.

“Where did you say you thought the passage must be, Mrs Adams?” Theodora asked. Elmhurst, in its former incarnation as a manor house, was easily unearthed on the map as were some of the older buildings in the village.

“The dotted line that leads from the manor house over to Elmhurst farmhouse,” said Mrs Adams. She crossed the room and pointed to the line, which sure enough seemed to go underground. “See? I’ve always thought that must be the passage.”

“Do you know the people who live at the farm?” asked Bettina.

“I used to. But no-one lives there now. It’s up for sale – if ever there was a time to go looking for that passage, it’s now. Now, look at this map – it shows the farmhouse in a bit more detail than the other one. It looks to me as if the passage starts in the cellars – leastways, I think that’s what the initial P stands for.”

“Gosh,” said Dina. “Do you really mean it’s empty, Mrs Adams? We could go over there and look for it?”

“Oh yes. Old Farmer Gill got too old to keep the farm going and he was the last of a long farming line. It’s up for sale now, as I said. You’ll need to keep an eye out for prospective buyers going to take a look at it, but yes – I don’t see why you shouldn’t go and look for the passage. Now, who’d like a piece of fruit cake?”

*

“We can’t go back to school yet,” said Theodora, when they all trooped out of Mrs Adams’ house. “We’ve just got to look for that passage.”

“I know it’s really exciting, but I don’t think we can go now, Theodora,” said Dina. “We’d be noticed if we didn’t get back to school in time for supper. But we can definitely go and explore tomorrow. We have to go to church in the morning, but we’re allowed to go for walks in the afternoon. I’m sure we’ll get permission – especially if we get back to school on time today and they think we can be trusted.”

There was sense in this, so Theodora allowed herself to be guided by Dina. All four girls found it hard to sleep that night, however, so exciting was the thought of searching for a secret passage the next day. And it is doubtful that they heard very much of the vicar’s sermon during church the next day!

At last, though, Sunday lunch was over and Dina went to ask permission for the four of them to go for a walk. Miss Scott readily gave it, adding, “But make sure you’re back by five o’clock!”

“We will be,” Dina promised.

She went to find the others, who quickly donned their coats – for it was a chilly day – and headed off outside the school gates and in the direction of the old farmhouse.

“Off to find a secret passage,” said Dina, with a grin. “Gosh, I feel as if I’m living in an adventure story, don’t you?”

They all did, rather. But Theodora’s mind was on more than just finding the secret passage. She had a great plan for a prank they could play in it once it had been discovered.

Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Oh good, it's back. :)

Sensible girl, Dina. Doesn't sound as though it'll rub off on Theodora, though!

Thank you, Liz -- and congratulations on completing Nano. :trumpet:

Author:  Liane [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Just caught up. :D Poor Ted. Hope they find the passage without too many misshaps.

Author:  mohini [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Thanks.
Waiting for more.

Author:  Alison H [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Well it does all sound a lot more exciting that normal school stuff!

Author:  Lesley [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Mrs Adams was very accomodating wasn't she? :lol:

Love the freedom you get in this school - it must have been a huge shock for Ted when she went to the CS and found it so regimented.

Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Am I the only one who thinks that this is going to be more of a CS thriller and the farmhouse will be occupied by a gang of, well, gangsters or bandits?

Thanks for starting this again; it's great to see more!

Author:  Emma A [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Mrs Adams sounds unusually helpful. I wonder if she has a vested interest in discovering the passage?

Thanks, Liz.

Author:  Abi [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

Thanks for the update. Mrs Adams seems very nice, but I hope Theodora isn't going to do anything too daft.

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 7 Dec

The farmhouse looked as if it had been empty for years. The door wasn’t locked and once inside the girls found themselves in dirty, cobwebby rooms, vacant apart from the odd item of broken furniture.

“This is an awful place,” declared Bettina. “Who would want to buy this?”

“Can’t imagine,” said Dina. “Well, this is the kitchen – ugh, just look at that dirty old sink – so let’s find the cellars. Mrs Adams said the passage seemed to start from there.”

They found nothing in the kitchen, but a passageway led off it, and Theodora opened what appeared to be a cupboard door. “Here!” she said. “Steps going down! This must be the cellars. Let’s just use my torch for now – we might need the others later on.”

They reached the bottom of the steps and Theodora flashed her torch around. There were a few tins on the shelves, and a couple of cigarette butts on the floor. Then the light fell on a trapdoor. “That’s got to be it,” said Phil, excitedly.

The trapdoor opened easily, to Theodora’s relief. And her torch showed more steps. Leaving the trapdoor open, they made their way down the short flight, then found themselves in a narrow passage. Without hesitation she led the way along it.

Not only was it narrow, but it was uneven most of the way, and Bettina cursed as she caught her skirt on something when she stumbled. Theodora flashed the torch on the skirt, and it had torn quite badly. “Blow,” said Bettina. “Matron’s going to have plenty to say about that.”

“We’re getting filthy as well,” said Dina. “All our clothes will want cleaning. I don’t know how we’re going to explain it.”

“Let’s worry about that later,” said Theodora impatiently. “Let’s keep going.”

They set off again, eventually reaching a long flight of steps. “This must be it,” murmured Dina. “We must be coming up to the mistresses’ bedrooms. We’ll need to be quiet and careful.”

On the top step, Theodora flashed the torch around and spotted a lever. She grinned and pulled on it, and to the watching girls’ horror and delight, a panel slid silently across the wall.

*

“This is Miss Sanderson’s room,” said Dina, as they stepped out of the passage. “She has a pile of Latin books on her writing desk, look. Gosh – we’d better get out of here before we’re caught.”

The girls looked at each other. They all looked grubby, and their clothes were covered in dust. The tear in Bettina’s skirt, at least, was no worse than it had looked in the passage.

“Do we go back along the passage now, then?” asked Phil, looking at her watch. “Gosh – we don’t have that long till tea. It’s taken ages to find the passage and come along it.”

The question was answered for her by the secret panel, which suddenly slid back into place. The four girls looked at each other, horrified. How would they get back in there now if they needed to?

“I’ll go out and see if there’s anyone around,” said Theodora. “If there isn’t, we can go back to our dormy this way.” There was, she thought, nothing to lose as far as she was concerned – she’d be thrown out of Elmhurst soon enough anyway, if Miss Rogerson had her way. So she may as well deserve it. Still, she kept her fingers crossed that they wouldn't be caught - she didn't want to get the other three into trouble, after all, and she didn't want the mistresses knowing about the passage before she could put her plan for some night-time ghostly goings-on at Elmhurst into action!

She opened the door and peeped around. The corridor was quiet. She ran lightly across to the stairwell and looked down; there was no prefect on duty; they could easily get back. She signalled to the other three to join her, and they hurried back to the Lapwing dormitory, thrilled by their adventure, but wondering how on earth they were to explain the state of their uniforms to Matron.

Author:  mohini [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

Ooh! I hope they have a good explanation.

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

Think I can make a guess at what Theodore has planned for her night time activities!


Thanks Liz

Author:  Alison H [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

I wish we'd had secret trap doors at school :lol: .

Author:  Liane [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

Yay they found it!
I hope they have a good excuse for Matron.
Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

Perhaps she isn't quite as bad as Matey! I can't wait to see Theodora in action. Thankyou.

Author:  Abi [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

I'll be impressed if they keep out of trouble with their clothes in that state! I wonder what Theodora has up her sleeve?

Author:  hac61 [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

But...but...they didn't shut the hole in the wall!

(or did I miss something?)

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 8 Dec

hac61 wrote:
But...but...they didn't shut the hole in the wall!

(or did I miss something?)


Oops! :oops: Have gone back and rewritten the last bit so that the panel slides back into place.


“Hullo,” said Issy, as she came into the dorm with Kathleen. “Gosh, you look a mess! Where have you been?”

“And you two look like drowned rats,” said Dina, seeing their wet coats.

“Do you wonder? It just poured down, didn’t it?” said Kathleen, taking off her coat. “Thank goodness it stopped and brightened up again, or we’d have floods I should think!”

“Lucky we sheltered then,” said Theodora, smiling broadly at the other three. What luck this was! They could easily say they took shelter from the rainstorm then found that the building they were in was dirty and dusty.

“You look perfect frights, though,” commented Kathleen, hanging her coat on a hanger. “Matron’ll have something to say. You’d better go and ’fess up to her, rather than letting her find your clothes in that state!”

“True enough,” agreed Dina.

They found Matron in her office, fussing about how soaking wet one of the more delicate first years had got while out in the rain. Dina explained how they’d been walking and taken shelter in an old farmhouse, which had been deserted and dirty. “And Bettina fell over,” said Phyl. “It wasn’t a good place to shelter at all, really.”

“No,” said Matron, with a sigh. “Yes, I know the farmhouse you mean – it’s been in a state of neglect for years. Oh well, at least none of you got wet through. Some girls are going to have streaming colds by tomorrow! Put your things in with the laundry – but you are going to have to mend that tear yourself, Bettina.”

“Well,” said Theodora to the others as they went back to their dorm, “that wasn’t so bad after all, was it? Next time we’re going to have to go in our own clothes and hide them afterwards.”

“We’re supposed to wear uniform if we’re outside the school grounds,” Phil pointed out.

“I know! But we’ll be going out at night, and we don’t want to be seen in uniform do we, silly?”

“At night?” asked Dina doubtfully.

“Yes! I was thinking that before we climb that final flight of steps, we could make ghost noises – some of the girls would be bound to hear and would think there were ghosts! They wouldn’t have a clue where the noise was coming from. But we’d have to do it when everyone – including the mistresses – have gone to bed.”

“Well, you can count me out of that,” said Bettina firmly. “It’s fun knowing about the passage – but I’m not wandering over the countryside at night, and I’m certainly not risking tearing my other tunic.”

Theodora was disappointed, but simply shrugged her shoulders and said, “What about you two? Are you game or not?”

“I think so,” said Dina. “What about you, Phil?”

“Rather,” said Phil, with a grin. “I knew we’d have some larks with you at Elmhurst, Theodora, but I never expected anything quite like this. When shall we do it?”

“Tomorrow night,” said Theodora. “Why put the fun off when we can start almost at once?”

Author:  Liane [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Dec

Oh dear. This isn't going to end well is it...
*crosses fingers that I'm wrong*
Thanks Liz

Author:  Abi [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Dec

*also crossing fingers, but fearing that Liane is right*

Thanks Liz. :)

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Dec

Oh dear! I can see so much potential for disaster - particularly given what is said about Theodora's old friends in the books.

Thankyou!

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 9 Dec

With her mind on her night-time prank, Theodora found it impossible to concentrate on lessons the next day. Dina and Phil were distracted as well, and happy to join Theodora in fooling around in some of the classes. Miss Sanderson in particular found it difficult to control herself when they pretended they couldn’t hear her questions properly and gave silly answers. She ended up screaming at them and sending them outside the room for most of the lesson.

“Who cares?” said Theodora as they stood outside the door. “Latin’s boring anyway. Who wants to be in there?”

Dina and Phil, though, said they hoped Miss Caldecott wouldn’t walk past and find them outside the classroom. “There will be trouble if she does,” predicted Phil. But they were lucky – Miss Caldecott had a visitor, and stayed in her study for most of the morning.

The only lessons that went smoothly that day were Maths and Gym.. Theodora liked Miss Scott, who’d been so kind to her, and felt she didn’t want to let her down by behaving badly in her classes. And she thoroughly enjoyed Gym. and had no wish to be sent out of it. She was also proving herself to be very good at it. Miss Lynton said her vaulting was coming along marvellously and said if she continued to improve, she’d almost certainly represent Elmhurst in the inter-school cup next term. Theodora glowed with pleasure.

At the end of lessons, the girls were encouraged to take a walk through the grounds to get some exercise before prep, and Theodora, Phil and Dina went down to the gates, making their plans for later that night. The gates would be locked at night, but Theodora was confident they could all climb over easily.

“We’re going to be shattered,” Dina predicted. “We’ll lose at least two hours.”

“So what?” said Theodora. “It’s worth it to have people thinking there are ghosts here. Anyway, it’s only one night. We can’t do it too often.”

“I’m not even sure anyone will hear us,” said Phil. “The old walls are so thick.”

“Well, we won’t know until we try,” returned Theodora impatiently.

“Good afternoon, girls!”

The trio turned to see Mrs Adams approaching them, a wide smile on her face. “Did you find the passage?” she asked.

“We did,” Theodora answered. She told them what had happened on Saturday and where the passage had come out.

“Well, you’ll be able to have some fun with that,” said Mrs Adams. “I know I would have done if I’d been at boarding-school at your age.”

“Well, we are planning to,” said Theodora. She told the old lady about their plans for the night, and she laughed.

“That does sound fun! Well, I hope it all goes well – I’ll be thinking of you tonight.” And she said goodbye and carried on her way.

“What a nice old lady,” said Dina. “I wish she was my granny – mine’s a horror. Come on – we’d better get back. It’s nearly time for prep.”

Author:  mohini [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

Is it right of Mrs Adams to encourage the girls? Is it a part of some deep plot?
Oh girls be careful!

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

Just what I was thinking, Mohini - she seems somewhat irresponsible.

Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

I bet that she goes straight to the Head!

Thankyou; please come and put us out of our misery soon.

Author:  Abi [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

Agreeing with the people who think Mrs Adams was a bit irresponsible. Not that it would have helped if she'd objected, I suppose, but still....

Author:  Elle [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

Oh dear me...


*Sings - "There may be trouble ahead..."*

Author:  lizarfau [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 10 Dec

Theodora had set her alarm clock for midnight and had tucked it under her pillow. But in the end she didn’t need it, as she was too excited to sleep. At five to midnight she switched off the alarm, then tiptoed over to Dina’s bed. She shook Dina and whispered in her ear. “Dina! Time to go.”

Dina yawned and stretched. “It’s raining, isn’t it?”

“Yes. What of it?” Theodora had spent the past hour listening to the steady patter of rain against the window.

“Do we have to go tonight? We’ll get soaked.”

“Well, I’m going. You don’t have to.”

“We could put it off till another night,” Dina hissed.

“And it might rain all term.”

Phil, who’d been dozing in the next bed to Dina, murmured, “Dina’s right. We’ll be wet through. How can we explain that to Matron?”

“We can hide the clothes till they’re dry, can’t we?” Theodora returned. “It’s not like we’re going out in uniform. And the clothes were going to get filthy anyway – I don’t see what the problem is.”

But Dina and Phil were adamant that they didn’t want to go over to the farmhouse in the rain. Theodora, cross, went back to her own cubicle and dressed in some dark clothes she’d brought from home. Dina and Phil might be put off by a little wet weather – but she wasn’t going to be! She put on her boots and raincoat – she’d leave it in the farmhouse she decided, rather than get it dirty in the passage, and it would surely dry by morning – grabbed her torch, and made her way downstairs towards the front door.

*

When she heard the click of the door, Miss Rogerson smiled to herself. She’d known there was something going on. She’d stayed up, with raincoat, boots and torch to hand, so that she could find out exactly what was happening. And then she was going straight to Miss Caldecott. And Miss Caldecott would have no option but to act upon it. That, she thought, as she opened the door and slipped out, would give her, Maybelle Rogerson, the utmost satisfaction.

*

It wasn’t a long walk, but it was a wet one, and it was lonely too. Theodora wished Dina and Phil had accompanied her. Also, she didn’t know how much noise she’d be able to make on her own – she mightn’t even disturb anybody with her ghost impressions. Still, she thought, there was no going back now. She didn’t want to go back to school and admit to Dina and Phil that she hadn’t gone through with it.

It wasn’t until she opened the door of the cellars that Theodora realised there was someone else in the farmhouse. There was a light from the bottom of the steps and also the smell of a cigarette. Theodora stiffened for a moment, but then realised she’d been heard opening the door, for a man’s voice said, “Who’s that?” Theodora took to her heels along the passage, then heard footsteps coming up the cellar steps. She was running across the kitchen, when the man caught up to her, grabbed her shoulder, and said, “What do you want? Why – you’re just a kid.”

By torchlight she could see that the man was in his twenties or thirties, with a beard and tousled hair. She was wondering what on earth to say to him – for, after all, what was he doing here? – when she heard another set of footsteps approaching.

Author:  mohini [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

Hey! You leave it at that. How can I survive till next update?

Author:  Lesley [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

Theodora was really rather silly, wasn't she? Now she's given Miss Rogerson ammunition. :(


Thanks Liz

Author:  Emma A [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

Oh no! Poor Theodora - has she stumbled into a nefarious scheme of some sort (with Mrs Adams as a criminal mastermind)?

Thanks, Liz.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

:hiding:

Author:  Abi [ Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

Oh dear, she is a plum. I don't see this ending well (and Miss R's attitude is really rather nasty, isn't it?).

Author:  lizarfau [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 11 Dec

“Derek – Derek! What on earth are you doing up here? We agreed to meet in the cellars.”

Theodora gasped as she recognised the familiar voice. Within seconds, Miss Scott had entered the kitchen and was looking as surprised to see Theodora as Theodora was to see her.

“She came snooping around,” said the man Miss Scott had called Derek.

“Theodora? What are you doing here?”

Theodora was too taken aback by the turn of events to be able to respond straightaway. Instead she gawped at Miss Scott, who was carrying a bag, which she now handed over to Derek. He muttered “Thanks, Cherry” and opened it. He took out a sandwich, which he started wolfing down as if he hadn't eaten for days.

“Theodora – how did you get here?”

“I – ” Theodora was saved from having to respond by the sound of more footsteps, again coming from the passageway that led to the cellar. Derek stopped eating, and Miss Scott hissed urgently, “Derek – hide in the cupboard over there. Theodora – get under the table. Now.

What on earth was going on here, Theodora wondered as she crouched obediently under the old kitchen table. Who was this man Derek and what was Miss Scott up to? Clearly, she had sneaked through Miss Sanderson’s room and into the passage in order to meet this strange man. And now someone else had come down the passage. Theodora’s heart sank as she heard the new arrival’s voice.

“Well, well. Miss Scott. I knew you’d been sneaking out at night and now I’ve caught you in the act.”

“In what act, Maybelle?”

“It’s no use playing the innocent with me, Cherry. I’ve heard you sneaking past my room at night. I’ve seen you hiding away parts of your meals. Obviously, you’re meeting someone down here and I’m wondering who it is.”

“I’ve just been exploring the passage, Maybelle.”

“Every night?” Miss Rogerson gave a little laugh. “Oh, I know what you’re up to, Miss Cherry Scott, and I’d think more of you if you owned up to what was happening. Anyway, it will be interesting, won’t it, to find out if Miss Caldecott still thinks so much of you when she finds out you’re harbouring a criminal!”

Author:  Alison H [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 15 Dec

:lol: Didn't see that coming.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 15 Dec

:shock: Well!

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 15 Dec

Hope Theodora can help. :banghead: :hammer: Miss Rogerson.


Thanks Liz

Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 15 Dec

I think Theodora has stumbled into an Enid Blyton book!

Loving this Liz!

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 15 Dec

“Harbouring a criminal?” Miss Scott responded. “Who, then? Can you see anyone else here?”

Under the table, Theodora’s mind was racing. Was Miss Scott really sheltering a criminal? The man called Derek certainly hadn’t seemed like a very savoury character. It was weird hearing all this, knowing that Miss Rogerson didn’t realise she was in the room. She hoped Miss Rogerson wouldn’t go looking for Derek and find Theodora as well – or instead!

“Well, I’m sure you are meeting someone here,” said Miss Rogerson. “I’ve heard you sneaking out as I said. And I know that a few days ago an old lady came to see Miss Caldecott saying that a man who had broken into her house and stolen some documents and valuable items was on the run from the police. She asked if anyone at the school might have seen him. Miss Caldecott, of course, knew nothing about it. But I knew you were disappearing somewhere at night and that you were hiding food in your napkin at mealtimes, and I put two and two together.”

“If Derek did break into Mrs Adams’s house and take things, it is only because they are rightfully his,” Miss Scott returned.

Mrs Adams? Gosh, thought Theodora, it had to be the same Mrs Adams she and the others had met, the one who’d been so helpful regarding the secret passage. And the same one who’d thought it a good idea for Theodora and the others to play ghosts at night. Mrs Adams, for some reason, had wanted her to catch Derek with Miss Scott …

“And he’s not on the run from the police, because Mrs Adams wouldn’t go to the police – she knows the things are really his,” said Miss Scott. “Now, please, Maybelle, go back to school – none of this is your concern. I can assure you that my brother is honest – ”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. He is adopted but as far as I’m concerned he’s my brother. And Mrs Adams is his mother – a woman who has denied all knowledge of him and refuses to pass on to him things that are rightfully his. Now, please, Maybelle – ”

“Yes, I am going,” said Miss Rogerson. “Straight to Miss Caldecott. You can explain yourself to her and see if she believes you.” Theodora heard Miss Rogerson’s footsteps move back across the kitchen towards the passageway.

“Now, Theodora, get out,” murmured Miss Scott. “Go back to school as fast as you can. And please, don’t mention anything about what you’ve seen and heard tonight. Do you promise? ”

“Yes, Miss Scott,” said Theodora, getting out from under the table.

“And I shan’t say anything about your escapade. Well, not to anyone else. But we will need to talk about it tomorrow.”

“Yes, Miss Scott. Thank you,” said Theodora gratefully. “I hope it all works out okay – for your brother, I mean.”

“Thank you,” said Miss Scott coldly. “Now – hurry back, please. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

Author:  mohini [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 16 Dec

Thrilling!!
More please.

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 16 Dec

Wonder if Miss Scott has put her foot in it somewhat - after all Miss Rogerson did not mention Derek by name. :(


Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 16 Dec

I wondered that as well! I hope the cat doesn't get out and Ted gets the blame.

Thankyou.

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 16 Dec

Theodora made her way back to school, thinking over all she’d seen and heard at the farmhouse. Why hadn’t Mrs Adams gone straight to the police if she’d wanted Derek caught? Miss Scott had said she couldn’t, because what he’d stolen was rightfully his – but what had Mrs Adams hoped to gain by having a group of schoolgirls finding him with Miss Scott at the farmhouse? It made no sense to Theodora.

And now, of course, she hadn’t played her prank – and couldn’t explain why to the others. She’d given her word to Miss Scott – and Miss Scott wasn’t going to report her to Miss Caldecott. She would just have to say that she hadn’t gone into the farmhouse because she’d seen lights in there. That was as close to the truth that she could get.

She was still wondering whether that story was too close to the truth in terms of not giving Miss Scott away when she reached the gates. She climbed over easily, and was about to walk up the drive when she noticed two figures walking down it - Miss Rogerson and Miss Caldecott.

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 17 Dec

Let's hope she's not caught - and we were right to be wary of Mrs Adams.


Thanks Liz

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 17 Dec

Oh, goodness, poor Ted! *sits nervously on edge of seat*

Author:  Abi [ Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 17 Dec

Oh dear, things seem to be getting very complicated - just caught up with the last three posts! (Does this mean Ted's final expulsion will turn out to be a heroic act of self-sacrifice to save Miss Scott and/or Derek?).

Author:  lizarfau [ Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 17 Dec

“What are you doing out here, Theodora?” asked Miss Caldecott. She looked Theodora up and down, while Theodora wondered what explanation she could possibly give. Miss Caldecott noted Theodora’s clothing and said sharply, “You aren’t running away, were you?”

“No, Miss Caldecott.” Gracious, thought Theodora. Did Miss Caldecott really believe she’d run away home?

“Then what are you doing?”

Miss Rogerson coughed and looked pointedly at her watch. “I won’t be a moment, Miss Rogerson,” said Miss Caldecott, sounding impatient. “Theodora, I will see you in my study straight after breakfast tomorrow, please. Now, go back to your dormitory. Miss Rogerson, perhaps you could accompany her to make sure she does go back?”

“But – ”

“I think I can find my own way perfectly well,” insisted the headmistress. Miss Rogerson, looking annoyed, nodded and said sharply to Theodora, “Come along then, girl. Don’t waste my time.”

*

At least having been caught by Miss Caldecott and Miss Rogerson meant that Theodora didn’t have to make up an excuse as to why she hadn’t carried out the prank. Miss Rogerson showed her into the dorm, waited for her to get into bed, then left the room. Dina whispered to her, “Golly, Theodora. What happened? You must be in so much trouble!”

“I ran into Miss Caldecott and Miss Rogerson at the gates,” answered Theodora. She didn’t need to specify that it had been on her return journey. Let Dina just assume it had been on her way out. “I’ve got to see Miss Caldecott in the morning.”

“Oh, poor you. Gosh! I hope you won’t be expelled for this.”

“I don’t care if I am.” Well, perhaps she did a little bit, Theodora thought. Taking Miss Rogerson out of the equation, Elmhurst was a nice enough place to be – better than those wretched schools her mother had chosen. But expulsion would annoy her mother, and it would serve her mother right to have something to be irritated about.

“Really? Gosh, I would mind. Thank goodness we didn’t go out with you tonight.”

“Good night, Dina, I’m tired,” said Theodora coldly. She snuggled down further under the bedclothes, waiting for them to become warm. But she didn’t go to sleep for a very long time. There was too much on her mind for that, however tired she was.

*

“You were going to pretend to be a ghost? My dear girl, the walls would be so thick, no-one would ever have heard you.”

Theodora felt even sillier at the headmistress’s words. When she’d made her way to the study after breakfast, she’d decided the truth was the best option. So she’d confessed that she’d planned to go down the secret passage and pretend to be a ghost. However, she let Miss Caldecott, like Dina, think she’d been on her way out of school when Miss Caldecott and Miss Rogerson spotted her. As far as she could tell, Miss Scott hadn’t given her away. And she was going to keep her word to Miss Scott.

“How did you know where the secret passage was?”

“We found it on a map.”

“A map? Which map?”

“An old lady showed it to us. We met her in the library,” Theodora said.

“I see. Who do you mean by ‘us’?”

Theodora could have kicked herself. “Some other girls were with me in the library,” she said.

“But they weren’t involved with your prank?”

“No.”

“Had you been in the passage before tonight?”

Theodora nodded.

“On your own or did the other girls accompany you?” When Theodora didn’t reply, Miss Caldecott said, “Well, clearly the other girls had the sense not to go a step further and join you in this mad prank. I won’t ask who they are – we don’t approve of sneaking in this school – but they can be very thankful that they didn’t accompany you last night. I’m going to confine you to the school grounds until half-term and I will arrange for some work or perhaps mending for you to do under supervision on Saturdays.”

Theodora felt glum at this prospect. Expulsion would have been better, she thought – lots of freedom at home. Being cooped up till half-term would be dreadful. Miss Caldecott dismissed her, and then turned her attention to the far more serious business of the day – dealing with Miss Scott.

Author:  Lesley [ Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 19 Dec

At least she was able to tell the truth without giving Miss Scott away.


Thanks Liz

Author:  Alison H [ Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 19 Dec

Miss Caldecott seems very reasonable.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 19 Dec

That was almost Hilda Annersley-ish! Though she would have got the other names, I suspect.

Thanks for the update.

Author:  lizarfau [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 19 Dec

It wasn’t really that Miss Scott had been foolish, more that she had been conned. That was why the action Miss Caldecott had had to take was so regrettable. Miss Scott’s adopted brother had been a conman, a crook – he had terrified Mrs Adams when he’d broken into her house and stolen valuable documents. He’d told her if she went to the police, he’d kill her. He’d said the same to so many other victims. And, the police had told Miss Caldecott, he’d been unlucky when Miss Rogerson realised Miss Scott was helping him at night, via the passage in Miss Sanderson’s room. He’d conned Miss Scott just as he had Mrs Adams. But, good teacher that Miss Scott was, Miss Caldecott knew she couldn’t keep her. She’d been aiding and abetting a criminal. No-one would enrol their daughters in a school that employed such a mistress. Goodness, parents of current pupils might even remove them from the school if Miss Caldecott didn’t take the necessary action.

And so she dismissed Miss Scott. And, put in the position of having to choose a new Maths mistress very, very quickly, she chose a slightly nervous young woman with very little experience. Miss Lawton was all Miss Caldecott could find at such short notice.

And Miss Lawton was someone that Theodora and her friends found very easy to rag.

*

Theodora was sorry when Miss Scott left. More than that, she was angry. She knew it had something to do with Miss Scott’s looking after her brother Derek, but did not ever find out exactly what – for, sadly, she had left Elmhurst by the time the case came to court and appeared in the local press. But she had liked the Maths mistress who had been so kind to her, and with Miss Scott’s departure she felt she’d lost a champion – as indeed she had, for with Cherry Scott gone, the mistresses at large were far more inclined to heed Miss Rogerson’s detrimental comments on Theodora Grantley than they had when the Maths mistress had been around to pour scorn upon them.

Author:  JS [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Oh dear, it's all going horribly wrong....
Thanks Liz.

Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Oh, dear. :( Poor Theodora. And poor Miss Scott.
And Miss Rogerson is doubtless happy about it. :evil:

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Poor Miss Lawton! Oh dear, I can see the downward spiral coming... :cry:

Author:  Lesley [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

In a way it's good that Theodora will get expelled because the school and Head are not as good as the CS. Had what happened to Miss Scott been at the CS I somehow doubt she would have been given the sack.


Thanks Liz

Author:  Loryat [ Thu Mar 04, 2010 3:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

So Derek was really a baddie then? Or has Mrs Adams tricked the police? Have just discovered this and am really intruiged.

Poor Theodora. It's awful to see the damage a bad reputation can do. Though she wasn't exactly helping herself with the ghost trick...

Bettina seems too nice to be one of Ted's friends who manage to get herself out of trouble at Ted's expense. Is she going to fall out with Ted? :(

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Thanks, I can't wait to see more of this

Author:  Loryat [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Saw this at the top of the list and thought there had been an update! *Disappointed* :( .

Author:  Miss Di [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

I know, I was so excited for a moment there :cry:

Author:  mohini [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

What pranks is Theodora going to play on the new nervous mistress?

Author:  Chair [ Mon Jun 21, 2010 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Thanks, Liz - I have just caught up with this. I feel sorry for Theodora and really annoyed with Miss Rogerson. I hope she gets her comeuppance. I am sorry as well to see Miss Scott go - she was lovely.
I always dreamed of finding a secret passage as a child and I still would love to find one now even as an adult!

Author:  Finn [ Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Bad Girl of the School updated 23 Dec

Agh! I thought there was a new update! I love this drabble and I want more! (In the politest of possible ways, Liz ;) )

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