The CBB :: View topic - A Christmas Arrival, updated 07/04/11 p.7

This is lovely, Brie. It's just the sort of chaos I imagine could happen at Freudesheim, with too many people all talking at once.

Lovely - bit puzzled by Roddy's statement that it was January though - then realised he was being sarcastic! :lol:

Lesley wrote:

Lovely - bit puzzled by Roddy's statement that it was January though - then realised he was being sarcastic! :lol:

Oh right! I was just puzzled :roll:

I too loved the chaos of the Maynards together, and it's always interesting to see where the older members of the family have ended up.

I feel a bit sorry for Reg Jr, name wise. I really dislike that name, for no good reason.

Thanks brie.

Roddy and Seth, were going up to the Attic with Geoff, and pretending that they were only helping him with his Meccanno because they had nothing better to do.

Oh dear - does Felicity have a soft spot for young Seth? :lol:

Author:	brie [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:	A Christmas Arrival, updated 07/04/11 p.7
Merry Christmas everyone. I've been working on this for a while, so I hope you all enjoy it! All comments are welcome. Thanks Chapter One: Home for Christmas "Christmas time" sang Cecil Maynard as she bounded down the front stairs of her School. "Cecil Maynard! Is that the correct way to descend the stairs?" asked Miss Annersley sternly. "No, not at all Miss Annersley." replied Cecil meekly, but then her merriness broke out, "Oh Auntie Hilda! It's Christmas, and it will be heavenly! Don't you just want to run and skip and sing too?" Miss Annersley laughed at her brevet niece's excitement. "One would never imagine that you were almost sixteen Cecilia." Cecil's younger sisters came dancing up at this. "Cecilia, Cecilia, Cecilia Marya, Cecilia, Cecilia." they sang dancing around their sister. "Aargh! Don't call me that" pleaded Cecil covering her ears. But the over-exuberant sisters had spotted their head-mistress. "Oh Auntie Hilda" clap clap, "Auntie Hilda, We wish you a Merry Christmas, Auntie Hilda, Auntie Hilda, Oh we wish you a Merry Christmas, Auntie Hilda, oh Hilda- join in Cecil!". Cecil joined in grabbing a hand each of her two sisters, and they formed a ring around Miss Annersley. "Girls, honestly.." protested Misss Annersley. But the sisters just ignored her, singing louder.. Miss Annersely was only freed when Cecil spotted her older sister. "Fliss! What took you so long? We've been waiting!" she asked indignantly. "Don't be grumpy Cecey we're going home now!" The reason for their overwhelming joy was that they had very nearly missed Christmas at home this year. None of the girls had seen their parents for almost two months as the whole household had been in quarantine for measles, and then at the last moment, in the final week of quarantine Rosli had decided to come down with it too. Quarantine had only ended last night, and the girls had already been cooped up in the school for two days of their Christmas holidays by this point. Now, Miss Annersley watched smiling as the four girls trudged along the snow packed path to go home. Felicity led the way, tall and slim with silvery blonde hair. She was in her last year of school, being eighteen and one of the elite group of Prefects. Cecil skipped along behind her, small, with a thick brown fringe and plump, freckled cheeks, and with her eyes dancing, she certainly did not look like the senior that she was. Phillippa followed, her long red pigtails streaming behind her as she shouted back to little Marie-Claire. Phil had been delicate for the first years of her life, but in a fit of rebellion she had run away, walking the length of the alm and back, and arriving home in no worse a condition than she had left in. She had demanded to go to school, or else she would get a house of her own and live like Pippi Longstocking! Forever after she was teased and called Pippa, but she got to go to school like she longed for. Marie-Claire was at the end of the jolly line, and with her rosy cheeks and bouncing brown curls no one would ever have known of her sad start in life. "Deck the halls with boughs of Holly." sang Felicity as she unfastened the gate, hung with holly branches. "Fa la la la la la la la." hollered back the younger girls. "Oh my babies!" was the replying shriek to this. As the big front door, with a huge wreath hanging from it, swung open. "Mamma" cried the girls, throwing themselves at their Mother. "Oh I have missed you all." cried Joey hugging them all at once. Then she grabbed them each singly. "Felicity, your hair! It's lovely. You do look old though! How is the singing? I heard you were wonderful in the play." said Jo proudly. "Oh Cecey! Laughing as ever! How I have missed those giggles!" "Pippa sweetie, you are almost as tall as Flissy now. Poor Cecey, soon you will be the smallest of all! Now wheres my Claire-bear?" "Mamma" complained eleven year old Claire although she was beaming. "Let's see you Baby. Are you growing your curls? Oh you do look so old all of you!" exclaimed Joey, as she hugged her youngest, surrepititiously wiping away a tear. "Now you must come through to the Saal, silly me forgetting for a moment there!" said Jo, momentarily creasing her brow, "Now, boots off, and you shall all come through. Remember my letter earlier this term?" With this Jo ran back to the Saal looking rather guilty, and the sisters were left together. The girls had received a letter from their parents a few months ago, just before the epidemic, telling them that their delicate, home schooled, shy cousin would be joining them for Christmas before starting the school. "Oh I forgot" said Pippa sitting down on the stair to tug at her boots. "Untie your laces Pip!" exclaimed Fliss, "and I think we all did for a moment." "It's 'cos we all missed Mamma so much." put in Marie-Claire. "Yes, well what do you think she will be like?" asked Cecil seriously. "She's the same age as you." said Fliss. "Well then I hope she's not a bore! I want to enjoy my Christmas!" "Cecey! She's our cousin." said Fliss, who was undoubtedly the most conscientious of the girls. "I know! But you won't be stuck with her all the time will you?" pouted Cecil. "We won't leave you alone with her" promised Marie-Claire, "Even if she's horrid." "Thanks Claire" said Cecil, "What do you think Pip?" for that sister had been unusually quiet. "Well I feel sorry for her." said Pippa decidedly, "You all don't know what it's like to be delicate! And at least I escaped when I was ten. She's sixteen. She probably doesn't even know what fun is yet!" "Well she will discover it soon enough in this house!" pointed out Felicity, standing up, "and we'll all do our best to help you Cece, won't we?" The girls all nodded. "Okay, now let us go meet our mystery cousin!" and with this the girls all trooped through to the Saal. "You took long enough" observed their Mother. Felicity's face reddened slightly at this, but the others were all to busy staring at the stranger on their couch. Jo mercifully came to their rescue. "Girls this is your cousin Daphne. Daphne dear, these are Felicity, Cecil, Pippa, and Marie-Claire." Daphne remained silent. The four girls smiled at her encouragingly. "Hello" she said at last timidly. She was very pretty, with dark brown ringlets that went just past her shoulders, and dark brown eyes surrounded by lovely, long lashes. Her father, Jo's brother Dick, had finally agreed to her going to school when it was clear that she really was no longer delicate. Much younger than her brother's and sisters she had been doted on all her life, but she was painfully shy around strangers. Dick had wanted to keep his little sunshine at home with them, but Mollie had grown concerned at Daphne's growing solitude as more and more of her siblings flew the coop. On hearing of their problem Joey had immediately offered her home as a stepping stone for her niece, promising to keep her at home until Daphne felt ready for school. As Jo's house was often like a busy junction it was hoped that Daphne would soon get over her timidness, and make friends of her own age. Daphne had arrived a week ago, but had been forced to board with the Sheppards until yesterday, it had been hard for the little girl having to live with complete strangers, and to have to start completely over again within a week, had been awful for the poor dear.

Author:	Jennie [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:34 pm ]
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Thanks, Brie, a great start.

Author:	Alison H [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:19 pm ]
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Thanks Brie - all these Christmassy drabbles are really getting me in the festive mood !

Author:	Lottie [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:45 pm ]
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Poor Daphne! I'm not sure that living with the Maynards will break her in gently! We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Thanks, Brie.

Author:	PaulineS [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:22 pm ]
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A lovely start. Why did she not meet her cousins whilst at the Shepherds. It would have helped her to met Cecil and Felicity at least, when school was over.

The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

A Christmas Arrival, updated 07/04/11 p.7 http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3677

Author:	Carys [ Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:26 pm ]
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Thanks Brie! I love the idea of Phil running away to prove she's not delicate.

Author:	brie [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:03 pm ]
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Chapter Two: Introducing Daphne. "Well what do you think?" asked Pippa, swinging her legs from her seat on the table- a position which had Anna seen it, would have caused her to throw up her arms in dismay. "Of Daphne?" asked Cecil her eyes twinkling, "Or of life, or of what you are getting for Christmas.." "Cecey! I mean Daphne of course!" Cecil became more serious, "I know Pip, she seems awfully sad. It's different for us, she's never been seperated from her family before in sixteen years. I think she's just really homesick." "What are you going to do?" asked Pippa matter of factly. "Me?" exclaimed Cecil, "What can I do?" "Cheer her up." said Pippa calmly. "What? Why me! I thought you were all going to help too." "Because you are the most cheerful person I know, and you're the same age as her.." "I knew you were all going to leave her to me" interrupted Cecil triumphantly. "If you would let me finish! It can't be Flissy because she is too old and serious, you know she acts older than she is Cece! and it can't be Claire, she's just a baby." "Well what about you then?" asked Cecil, managing to refrain from teasing her sister about calling Marie-Claire a baby, when she was hardly three years older. "Me? I'm too cynical to be of any use to anyone" said Pippa honestly, "and anyway what do you think Mamma and Pappa would say if we turned out another rebel?" "She doesn't seem like the rebellious type to me." said Cecil thoughtfully. "You are meant to say, 'No Phil you're not cynical, you are a lovely, happy person'" exclaimed Pippa. "But Pip you are cynical." said Cecil looking puzzled, "You just admitted it." Pippa glared at her older sister, whilst Cecil giggled madly. "What's going on in here?" asked Jo, sticking her head through the door, "Cecil what are you laugh.. Pippa! Get off of the table!" Cecil giggled again, before covering her mouth with her hand, as Pippa slid of the table. Jo shook her head at her daughters. "Come on!" she said "We are decorating the tree. Hopefully we will get it done before the boys get back. Cecil, go bring Daphne down will you? She's in her room." and with this Jo whirled back out of the room. Once she was gone Cecil raised up her arms as if to say, see i'm being forced to look after her already. Pippa started to laugh, before smothering it into a very unconvincing cough. "Subtle isn't she?" she said conversationally. "Yeah, as subtle as a brick through a window." said Cecil grumpily. "Oh don't grump Cece. It doesn't suit you. Go up there and smile and giggle and be cheerful like you do." Cecil glared at her sister. "It's a compliment really Cecil." "Yeah sure Pippa. Okay, okay... I'm going. But I was so looking forward to Christmas." she said wistfully. "I'm sure Santa won't ignore you because you are too busy being nice Cecil." Cecil rolled her yes. "I'll be sure to come to you again Pip when I'm next in need of comfort." she said sarcastically, before leaving her sister and trudging up the stairs. She knocked on the door quietly, completely unsure of what to say, or do. "Hello" she said, opening the door slowly, when there was no reply. "Oh Daphne." she said as soon as she got through the door, forgetting all plans of giggling nervously or re-introducing herself. "Are you okay?" Daphne wiped her face in her knitting. "I'm fine" she muttered from this position. Cecil remained in the doorway unsure of what she should do, something told her she should hug this poor forlorn girl, but Cecil was not a cuddler. Instead she came and perched on the side of the armchair Dapne was sitting in. "Well" she said in her normal tones, "In that case you must come down stairs and see.... what is that? Oh Daphne it's beautiful." "It's an angel." whispered Daphne, who seemed incapable of speaking in a normally pitched voice, but for the moment Cecil was enraptured and hardly noticed. "Did you make this?" she asked Daphne nodded. "May I see it?" Silently Daphne handed over the ragdoll which had been acting as her handkerchief for the last few minutes. "It's beautiful." repeated Cecil as she examined the angel doll Daphne had been working on. She had sewn different coloured threads around stretched wire and the angel had two large multicoloured wings. There were even little red stitches to give her rosy cheeks, and a halo: made of a curtain ring, which was held above the doll by thin wire. "I'm a dud at sewing, and knitting." admitted Cecil, "I've never liked it before, but if this is the kind of results you can get from it, well, I'm almost persuaded." "What is it?" said Cecil, seeing that Daphne looked like she wanted to say something, "do you want this back?" she said, holding out the doll. "No" said Daphne quietly, "You can keep it." "I couldn't possibly" said Cecil, who apart from thinking that it was far too valuable for her careless self, had never been a big fan of playing with dolls, even in her youth. "It's okay." said Daphne, still in that scared, faint voice. "Oh Hallellujah" shrieked Cecil suddenly. Daphne sqwuaked in surprise, looking quite scared of her cousin. "Oh sorry Daph- Can I call you Daph?- it's just I have the most brilliant idea ever! Are you coming downstairs? and we can show Mamma!" Daphne just looked at her bewildered. "Oh sorry Daphne." said Cecil, suddenly remembering who she was talking to. "I just had a great idea! We really ought to put this on the tree! It's much prettier than the ugly cherub thing we normally have. I'm sure we could make it stand up. Oh, Daphne, please say yes!" Daphne relaxed for a moment, allowing a little giggle to escape, possibly from nervousness, or because of Cecil's over-energetic ways. "Okay." she said lowering her eyes slightly. "Please come down with me" pleaded Cecil, "We could really use your help, or" she said backtracking a little, "you could just sit and watch, and then join in if you want to?" This appealed to Daphne slightly more. "Here" said Cecil gently, "you just wipe your eyes, and we'll go down the stairs. I won't tell anyone okay?" Daohne nodded slightly, and inwardly Cecil frowned, this was certainly a challenge, for the girl would hardly string two words together.

Author:	Alison H [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:46 pm ]
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Nice to see more of the younger members of the family.

Author:	Lesley [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:28 pm ]
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What on earth were the Bettanys playing at? Not allowing her to go to school - and to turn out like this? Poor girl - and she's not really a girl at 16. Thanks brie.

Author:	Mrs Redboots [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 7:54 pm ]
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This is a great story - thanks, Brie.

Author:	PaulineS [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:21 pm ]
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Where was Peggy, Bride and Mauve? Talk about suffocating a child with cotton wool. Hope Cece can break through the barrier, Joey will be too over the top. (((Daphne))) and (((Cece)))

Author:	Carys [ Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:23 pm ]
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Poor Daphne, I suppose it must have been hard for her having parents who were so much older than her.

Author:	Jennie [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:54 am ]
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Poor Daphne, and to be sent away at such a time as this,

Author:	Rosalin [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:41 pm ]
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I love the different characters of Cecil and Pippa. I hope Cecil will help her out of her shell a bit and they will become friends. Thanks brie.

Author:	Elder in Ontario [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:42 pm ]
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If Daphne isn't so overwhelmed by this swift change from the quietness of her own home that she retreats to her bed in despair, and, especially given the girls' reaction to her angel, I now doubt that this will happen, I think she'll become so accustomed to this so-typical Maynard state of chaos that she'll be glad to go to school in January - she'll probably regard it as a rest cure!! (And I'll beat retreat before anyone complains about my run-on sentence!!!) Thanks, Brie, this is great fun.

Author:	brie [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:14 pm ]
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Chapter three: The Tree The two girls went down the stairs together, Cecil trying to tone down some of her natural exuberance, and Daphne trying to pretend she wasn't terrified and homesick. The scene they met when they got downstairs was enough however to put a smile on both the girls faces. Marie-claire was unwinding a long roll of paper streamers, and Phil- balanced somewhat precariously on the back of the settee- was hanging them round the walls from the lights. Felicity was decorating the tree, with the beautiful and decidedly varied, christmas decorations which were a mixture of wood carvings, delicate glass, and homemade card ones. Marie-claire was calling out her commands to both girls, confusing them both by not saying whom she meant. "More left?" gasped Phil, "Wait till I leap to the windowsill..." "No Pippa!" moaned Marie-claire, "Fliss must move the pink bauble thingy left- swap it with the giraffe Fliss- Pip you go more to the right I think." "Right... right... of course right.. what was I thinking?" muttered Phil rebelliously as she bounded back onto the settee, almost upsetting the whole thing. "Hey bossy." said Cecil as she entered the room, ruffling her little sister's hair. "Where's Mamma?" Felicity giggled. "Anna's telling her off! Mamma left all her clothes in a heap and Anna's going to have to re-iron them now." Cecil gurgled appreciatitively. "Serves her right, for all those times she's told us off for being careless." "Are you just going to stand there looking like a lunatic or are you going to help?" asked Felicity meditatively. "Yes commander!" replied Cecil cheekily, "What can I do for you Sir?" Felicity shook her head. "Stop being silly for a start, and then if you are feeling particuliarly generous you could get me the steps." Cecil saluted, and left the room. "Silly ass" said Felicity, although she was laughing, "You couldn't pass me something Daphne could you?" Daphne, who had been hoping to hide in a corner, was now finding herself unexpectedly in the spotlight. "What would you like?" she asked shyly. "Your choice, anything from that big box there. And don't let little Claire boss you about now." she said, with a fond smile at her little sister. "I'm not bossy!" exclaimed Marie-Claire indignantly. "Of course you're not." said Phil, joining in, "Now instead of instructing everyone, could you please pass me some more of those garlands." With Phil once more dangling at a dangerous angle, Marie-Claire busy untangling the paper chains, and Felicity standing on the step-ladders gazing at the tree critically, Cecil and Daphne were free to do what Cecil complained was the most boring job. "I hate sorting through all this junk." she pronounced, after a few moments of silence. "It's not junk, it's all old and beautiful." said Felicity her voice floating down. "Then why don't you do it?" asked the irrepressible Cecil. "Because you are too small, even on the stepladders you wouldn't be able to reach the top." pointed out Felicity. "I think you should use this one." Everyone turned and stared at Daphne, it was the first time she had voluntarily said anything since she had arrived. "Pass it up." said Felicity, once she had recovered. "Oh this is one of my favourites too, it's one of the one's Mamma got when she was still at school, they went on a camp, I forget where, and they visited a village, where a famous carpenter lived, I forget his name, anyway thats a likeness to one of his carvings." "Thanks for that very informative explanation Fliss" chuckled Cecil. "Yes, I am in awe at the wealth of your knowledge." agreed Phil, snorting. "Ughh Phil that was gross!" exclaimed Cecil. "Do it again!" demanded Maire-claire, her eyes bright. "Baby" commented Cecil. "No more than you" pointed out Marie-claire. "She has a point you know." said Felicity. "Humph." said Cecil, although her eyes were sparkling. "I don't know where you could have got the idea that I was anything but an oracle of maturity?" "Umm Cece, I don't know about mature, but i'm pretty sure an oracle is someone who can predict the future, or give brilliant advice or something." "Are you saying i'm not these things?" asked Cecil indignantly. There was silence for a moment as everyone digested this, then there was a huge explosion as they all burst out giggling. Daphne looked bewildered for a moment, but then her lips creased up too, and as the laughter bacame more infectious, she too started to giggle. Yes, thought Cecil smiling wider, she would be a laugh when they dragged her out of her shell. At least she hoped so... "What is all the laughter about?" asked Jo, arriving at the door. "Laundry, all done?" asked Pippa in an innocent voice. Jo's lips opened and shut, but no noise came out. The girls took full advantage of this, for it was not often that they floored their Mother. "So Felicity, don't you agree that Mamma was quite right to make you re-iron that dress when you let it get all crushed?" asked Cecil. "Oh yes" replied Felicity seriously,"I could hardly be mad, when I know that Mamma only ever leads by example. She would never ask us to do anything she wouldn't do herself. That's why I knew she wasn't being too hard on me." Jo's eyes widened. "Cheeky brats" she said regaining her tongue, with a vengeance. "I am seriously considering making you do that ironing for me Felicity. Or at least I would if I hadn't just done it myself. Because I always lead by example, and it isn't fair to give people more than their fair share of work, just because you have been careless." "Don't look at me like that Phil!" she said grinning, "You fully deserve all the preaching I can give you, after the teasing you just tried to give me... Phil get down from there!" she exclaimed, suddenly realising that her daughter was perched perilously. Phil slithered down, and peace reigned, for perhaps a full minute. "YEOWWW!" shrieked Cecil. Jo just about hit the roof, and Phil, who had covertly clambered back up on top of the settee, fell back- luckily not onto the floor. Cecil ran out of the room, and could be heard thundering up the stairs. "What on earth" wondered Jo aloud. Daphne opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind, the last few minutes had been rather too much for her. "Mamma look! She will go on the top of the tree won't she?" asked Cecil excitedly if rather breathlessly, as she fell rather than walked back into the room. "Cecil! Where did you get this?" asked Jo sharply, as she took the doll. "It's beautiful isn't it? Daphne made it all by herself." said Cecil proudly. "Wow" said Fliss, jumping off the steps. "Daphne, this is amazing." "Daphne?" asked Marie-claire, sounding shyer than anyone had ever heard her before, "Will you make a doll for me? I know i'm too old but please?" "Maire-claire! You can't ask Daphne to make you a doll." exclaimed Jo. But Daphne was beaming. "Of course I will." she said kindly, "It might not be very good though." she added doubtfully. "Of course it will." said Cecil decidedly, "But Mamma's right, you don't need to make it for Claire." "No, I would like too." she replied shyly. "Thank you" said Marie-claire excitedly, "Wait. You won't tell the boys will you?" I'm glad you are all enjoying this, and I hope it helps you get into a festive frame of mind!

Author:	Rosalin [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:39 pm ]
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You've portrayed a lovely family dynamic there. I'm glad Daphne is coming out of her shell a bit and Marie-Claire's worry about the boys knowing she wanted a doll made me smile. Thanks brie.

Author:	Lesley [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:54 pm ]
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That is lovely - and so nice to see Daphne being brought into the family. Thanks brie

Author:	Carys [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:10 pm ]
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That was a lovely scene!

Author:	Alison H [ Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:43 pm ]
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Daphne seems happier .

Author:	Lottie [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:14 am ]
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This is lovely and Christmassy. It's nice to see Daphne coming out of her shell a bit. I hope she's not too overwhelmed when the rest of the family get home. Thanks, Brie.

Author:	Miss Di [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:21 am ]
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I love the interaction between the sisters, such natural family dialogue. And will Daphne make me a doll too please? It sounds lovely!

Author:	brie [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:44 am ]
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Im glad you are all enjoying this. Here is some more: Chapter four: The boys arrive. After they had all solemnly sworn that they would not tell the boys that Marie-claire was to get such a babyish thing as a doll, they all got down to decorating the room in earnest. "When will the boys be back?" asked Pippa curiously. "Goodness knows!" sighed Jo, "They only came back last night luckily, So we could actually let them in! But Papa dragged them off to the San at some ridiculous hour this morning, I don't think either of them were frightfully keen, but the poor dears weren't given much of a choice in the matter, and it is only one day of their holidays I suppose. Even if it is the first one." "Is it just Felix and Geoff, or are there any last minute arrivals?" asked Cecil curiously, this was actually quite a sensible question for in Cecil's experience there was always someone there for Christmas who had sworn they would be unable to make it. "No" replied Jo cheerfully, as they had all half-expected., "Roddy is coming up- tomorrow I believe- I think the words he used were "I have no clean clothes, and I miss eating food too much", which was as you can imagine slightly worrying considering the boy has only been back at College three months!" "Oh goody! Christmas wouldn't be the same without a Roddy disaster." laughed Cecil. For Roddy was notoriously clumsy, and previous incidents had included bloody noses, pulling the curtains down, and most re-told was the story of how he had tripped and landed face first in the cranberry jam. A story he had not yet managed to live down, despite the fact that it had happened a full four years ago. Jo was as excited as the girls about having her boys back, though she was saddened that this year followed the pattern of past years, with less and less of her children and adoptees coming home. Len and Reg, with little Patricia and Reg jr. had come every year but last year had seen them move, as Len was offered the deputy head-ship at the other branch of the Chalet school- in Wales. Reg was now working for the Welsh San, and they were happily settled, finally out of the shadow of Len's parents. Con was a travel writer and if she was relatively nearby would come home for Christmas, but as she was constantly globe trotting, there was always little chance of this. This year she had resolved to go out to Niger where Margot was a medical missionary. Steve the next eldest, was following in his Papa's footsteps, and was in England studying Medicine. Charles was studying Law, and hoped to someday open a small practice in London. Mike had not long left school, and had no intention of spending his life in the Navy. He was seeing a young nurse, and was taking a year in college to work extra hard on his studies with the view to following in his brother Steve's footsteps. Whatever his mischievous ways in the past, Mike was long reformed. This three, with such a fearsome study load had all declined their Mother's invitation home. Felix and Geoff were still in school, and therefore were coming home. Geoff having very little idea of what he wanted to do, whilst Felix, rather to his Father's horror, wanted to act. The Richardson's too were settled. Roger was an Engineer with a small Chalet in Austria, and Ruey was a P.T. teacher, and she was going to spend Christmas with Len and her young family. Roddy was currently in college hoping to become an apprentice in the firm his brother worked for. Erica was working as a nanny for a wealthy family over in America- friends of the Von Eschenau's- and was engaged to marry an American sailor, and it was far too far of a distance for her to come home for. Jo took a sneaky look at her wristwatch, it was almost four now. Hopefully nothing had come up at the San, and Jack would be able to keep his promise. Sure enough, right on the dot, the big doorbell rang. "Who's that?" demanded Cecil immediately. Unnoticed by everyone but Jo, Daphne quivered slightly. "Pippa, why don't you put your dear sister out of her misery and go open the door please?" asked Jo promptly. Pippa slid down off the couch reluctantly. "Do you know who it is Mamma?" asked Cecil suspiciously. Figuring she had given Pippa enough time to react, Jo replied, "Why don't you go see for yourself if you are so curious?" "You do know!" accused Cecil, before bounding up and running out of the room. Marie-claire hurried after her. "PAPPA!" they heard Cecil shriek as she reached the hallway. "I see we haven't lost our voice in the past few months then." they heard Jack say mildly. Casting off her young elegance, Felicity copied her sister, rushing out of the room calling, "Felix!" "Are you coming Daphne?" asked Jo gently, as they stood in the now empty room. "They are kind creatures I promise." Jo held out her hand, and shyly Daphne took it. As hard as meeting her girl cousins had been, meeting her boy cousins would be infinitely harder. They entered the hall to find mild pandemonium. Jack was standing in the middle of it all, looking decidedly bemused. "A flower, kind damsel?" asked Felix, who was the first to spot Daphne. Daphne looked too bewildered and scared to talk. With a smart flick of his wrist, and a tap on his cap, Felix produced a bunch of fake flowers from his flat pocket. "Don't take them Daphne!" warned Felicity, catching her twin in the knick of time. "Yes lets put the squirting flowers away for now Felix." warned his Mother. "Spoilsport." muttered Felix to Felicity, before covertly squirting her. Fliss contented herself with giving her brother a fierce glare. Cecil appeared to be involved in about three conversations at the same time. She was talking to her Father, but every so often she would tilt her head back and interrupt the second twins conversation. Marie-Claire was calmly sitting on Geoff's shoulders, wearing a paper crown (which had no doubt appeared from the depths of one of Felix's pockets). Pippa who was talking animatedly to Geoff, was sitting with her legs swung casually over the bannister. "Quiet!" shrieked Jo finally in desperation. Everyone turned to stare at Joey, and it was so quiet that they could hear the wind howling outside. Then the doorbell rang. "Who is it now?!" shouted Cecil excitedly, as Jo sighed. "Rudolph!" exclaimed Marie-Claire for no apparant reason. They all started laughing. "Oh I give up." murmured Jo, before throwing herself wholeheartedly into the competition to shriek the most excitedly. There was a large rap on the staircase. "The door." reminded Geoff, rolling his eyes. Cecil threw herself at the door. "Roddy." she exclaimed unneccesarily. "You don't say." said Roddy sarcastically, "Now can we come in? What on Earth did you leave us on the porch for so long for?" "May we?" said Jo suddenly. "What?" "May we come in", repeated Jo. Roddy glowered at her. "May I remind you that it is December?" Jack sprung to the rescue. "Instead of doing a bad imitation of Hilda, why don't you get the fire going Jo? Geoff, Felix grab these young men's suitcases will you? I'm Jack Maynard by the way" he extended his hand out to shake the other young gentlemans hand, "This is my family. I promise they are all human even if they are acting like they are out of the local zoo, just now." "Pappa!" exclaimed Cecil looking hurt. "Oh Cece, don't look like that, you know you are the worst of the lot of us." said Pippa calmly. "This is Seth" announced Roddy, "I hope you don't mind him coming to stay." Seth, a curly haired man with dark blue eyes, looked horribly embarassed. "Of course not" said Jo appearing back in the hallway with a black smudge on her left cheek, "The more the merrier, and when you said you were coming home I half expected Seth to come to when you said in your letter that one of your friends couldn't get home for Christmas." Seth looked slightly less mortified at having arrived unnanounced. "May we have a snowfight tomorrow?" asked Marie-claire hopefully, calmly changing the subject. "And can we make a Christmas pudding too?" chimed in Cecil animatedly, "Frau Meiders showed us how to make them." Jo opened her mouth to say something. "and toboganning." interrupted Geoff. "And we should have a carol concert." contributed Felicity. "We could put on a play" exclaimed Cecil excitedly. "I want to practice my skiing" admitted Roddy. "Okay." said Jo suddenly, "Firstly, yes you can have a snowfight if the weather is okay; Cecil you can ask Anna.." "Do you not mean I may ask Anna?" asked Cecil cheekily. Jo's cheeks went red, as she was caught out like this, but she ignored the interruption, "Cecil you may ask Anna but it is entirely up to her, and if she lets you, you must clear up afterwards; You may all go toboganning and skiing, you will have to teach Daphne afterall; If you can manage to arrange a carol concert then you may certainly have one, but we might be better just having a sing-along one evening; and Cecil as admirable as the idea of putting on a play is I think it might require slightly too much organisation but you may certainly try. Now is that everyone?" When everyone declared themselves out of plans, Jo calmly moved them through to the Saal. "Where is Ugly Joe?" asked Roddy once he was settled. Cecil stifled a giggle, and the others all grinned. Seeing the uncomprehending looks on Seth and Daphne's faces, Felicity hastened to explain. "Ugly Joe is our cherub." she said laughing, "He sits on the top of our tree, and growls down at us all." "He's a relic from Pretty Maids- Jacks old family home.I think it was Margot who first called him that, and somehow it stuck." joined in Jo. "I always did mean to get rid of him" admitted Jack himself, "Having him at the top of the tree was not one of the Maynard traditions I planned on carrying on, but somehow we never quite got round to getting another one." "Well now we have!" interrupted Cecil excitedly. "What?" asked Jack surprised. "Don't tell me you actually managed to find something even more hideous!" laughed Felix in his deep voice. "No" replied Cecil scathingly, "We found something very beautiful. So there!" Felix pulled a wild face at her. "And" she added impressively, "It was hand sewn by a member of the family." "Oh no" gasped Felix, "Cecil! you haven't tried sewing again have you? Just give me a moment to faint in surprise." "Shut up!" said Cecil crossly, although she was having to work hard to stop herself from smiling, "It wasn't me idiot." "Really?" exclaimed Felix sarcastically. "Oh Felix stop winding her up." moaned Felicity, aiming a gentle kick at his shins. "Your right." said Felix seriously, "She's far to easy a target." edited because I am an idiot!

Author:	Carys [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:01 am ]
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I'm really enjoying reading about happy, merry Maynards!

Author:	Lottie [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:17 am ]
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This is lovely, Brie. It's just the sort of chaos I imagine could happen at Freudesheim, with too many people all talking at once. Thanks!

Author:	Fatima [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:28 am ]
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Lottie wrote: This is lovely, Brie. It's just the sort of chaos I imagine could happen at Freudesheim, with too many people all talking at once. Exactly what I was thinking! Thanks Brie.

Author:	Alison H [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:32 am ]
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It must make quite a change for Daphne - even Maurice and Maeve must've been more like an uncle and aunt than elder siblings!

Author:	leahbelle [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:46 pm ]
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Lovely to read about a happy bunch of Maynards! Thanks, brie.

Author:	Lesley [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:22 pm ]
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Lovely - bit puzzled by Roddy's statement that it was January though - then realised he was being sarcastic! Thanks brie.

Author:	Rosalin [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:13 pm ]
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Lesley wrote: Lovely - bit puzzled by Roddy's statement that it was January though - then realised he was being sarcastic! Oh right! I was just puzzled I too loved the chaos of the Maynards together, and it's always interesting to see where the older members of the family have ended up. I feel a bit sorry for Reg Jr, name wise. I really dislike that name, for no good reason. Thanks brie.

Author:	brie [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:02 pm ]
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Rosalin wrote: Lesley wrote: Lovely - bit puzzled by Roddy's statement that it was January though - then realised he was being sarcastic! Oh right! I was just puzzled I too loved the chaos of the Maynards together, and it's always interesting to see where the older members of the family have ended up. I feel a bit sorry for Reg Jr, name wise. I really dislike that name, for no good reason. Thanks brie. OMG I cant believe I wrote January!!!!!! I am such an idiot! I even proof-read it.... I'm sorry, Roddy is not the idiot I am- It should say December!

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:36 am ]
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Am absolutely loving this Brie. And sad to say I didn't even notice Roddy said January

Author:	brie [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:09 pm ]
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I'm glad you are all enjoying this . May the Christmas cheer continue... Chapter Five: Noises in the Night After a rowdy supper, Jo sent Cecil, Daphne, Pippa, Geoff and Marie-Claire to bed. She knew that Daphne was exhausted, and it had been a hard day for her. And since she secretly still worried about Phil she decided to send them all to bed too. Hopefully, that way Daphne wouldn't feel like she was being sent away. She no longer gave Felix and Felicity a bed time. Times had changed, even on the Platz, and all the children were given much more freedom now, especially when they were over the age of sixteen. Cecil had complained, she was almost sixteen after all, and resented being given a bed time, especially such an early one. But Jo had insisted, promising a snowfight the next day as a bribe. She re-entered the Saal after tucking all her children up although she had a suspicious feeling that upstairs the children were probably all gathered in one room with no intention of going to sleep. "Jo" said Jack, giving her a warm smile, "We were just discussing the Christmas dance." "May I go this year Mamma?" begged Felicity, the dance was for over eighteens only, and she had missed out on going last year. The Christmas dance was a relatively new addition to the social calendar of the Platz. It had first happened a few years ago, when Miss Ferrars and Miss Wilmot had gone on a temporary "job swap" with two mistresses from Carnbach. This was one of the traditions they had picked up from the other school. For every year at Christmas, the Welsh school had a Party for the mistresses, local friends, and the staff of the San. It was for over-eightens only but they were very happy to have the Prefects there too, as they felt it was a good introduction to the social world of adult life. "Yes, the pair of you may go this year." said Jo, resisting the temptation to sigh, she knew that the Christmas dance, and the Summer Fling were the social events of the year for the young adults of the Platz, but she did hate seeing her children grow up. "And you two should go to" said Jo pointing at Roddy and Seth. "It's great fun, honestly." "We probably will." agreed Roddy, "It was a good laugh the year I went." "Jo. Did you promise Cecil a snowfight towmorrow?" asked Jack suddenly. "Yes, why? Do you not think Daphne is strong enough?" asked Jo worriedly. "Oh no. I think some exercise would do the mite some good. But if you would care to take a look out of the window?" Felix drew the curtains back with a dramatic flourish. "It's snowing." said Felicity disappointedly. "Thanks for pointing that out for us Fliss." said Felix grinning, "I couldn't quite make it out myself." Felicity stuck her tongue out at her brother. "What shall we do tomorrow then?" asked Jo despairingly. "I suggest you start begging Anna to let them use the kitchen." said Jack chuckling. "Anna's busy enough as it is, I don't suppose she really wants to spend the nest week scraping cake mixture off the ceiling." pointed out Jo. "Just because you can't cook, doesn't mean your daughters can't either." said Jack gently. As expected his wife rose to the bait. "I may not be able to cook Jack Maynard, but at least I know how not to burn!" "Ouch." said Jack suddenly looking rather embarassed. "Why do I have a feeling there is a story in there somewhere?" asked Felix slyly. "Did I ever tell you about the time your Father made me breakfast in bed?" asked Jo dreamily. "Green!" exclaimed Jack suddenly. And Jo stopped looking so smug all of a sudden. "What?" asked Seth quietly, to Roddy. "No one has any idea why, but if Aunt Joey is about to embarass Uncle Jack, all he has to do is remind her of green and she will be quiet." "I know, Mamma, when are you going to tell us that story?" asked Felix indignantly. "The only people that know have been sworn to secrecy, for the last twenty or thirty years!" laughed Jack. "I shall write the story down in my will" promised Jo, "Then you can all have a good giggle at my funeral. I should hate to have you all sad and sombre." "And on that cheery note, may I suggest bed?" said Jack, "It is only just after ten, but you have all been travelling this last few days." Everyone was quite tired, so there were no protests for once. Jo remained behind to tidy up the last of the things, and put out the fire. Once she had done this she too trudged up the stairs. At the other end of the hallway she could hear the rustles of the twins getting changed, and up above her she could hear the pipes creaking as someone turned on the shower. But she was sure she could hear something else too. She went along to her left, and finally she realised where the noise was coming from. She was outside Daphne's room. She bit her lip as she heard the crying inside. She wasn't sure whether or not to go in. Daphne might need to be left to cry in peace for a while. Hesitantly she turned away, but if the girl was crying again tomorrow night she would go in. She couldn't leave the poor child to feel alone like that. She had just turned the corner when she heard a door creak open behind her. Hidden against the wall Jo stuck her head around the corner, and saw Cecil's door swing open. Cecil padded along, and just like Jo had done moments before, she stuck her ear up against the door. Jo saw Cecil sigh, before she knocked on the door lightly. Smiling now, Jo turned and walked away towards her own room. Cecil, was the most friendly, and sunshiney (if there was such a word) of Jo's children, but she didn't like responsibility, and although she was friends with every girl in her class, and was never short of partners for walks or dances, Jo worried that she was missing out on having a close friend. Felicity and Lucy Peters had been best friends practically since they were babies, and Pippa had Emily Jakobs, in her own form, and the strange friendship she had with Marie Rosomon despite the difference in their ages. Perhaps Daphne could do Cecil as much good as Cecil could do for Daphne. "What took you so long?" asked Jack sleepily, when she entered their room. "I was just checking on the children." said Jo. "And?" "I think they are all going to be absolutely fine." she beamed. "Unless they kill each other over the next few days." said Jack, as he gazed out of the window at the snow which was still falling heavily. "Pot. Kettle. Black," said Jo fondly, as she slipped into bed. "What?" asked Jack blankly. "Jack, if you can't get to the San tomorrow, you will be the worst and most impatient person for me to deal with." pointed out Jo, "And Jack I know, the San is important to you. It's important to all of us. But there are no urgent cases at the moment, and there are several doctors within walking distance of the place. This snow could be a blessing in disguise." Jack smiled at Jo. "I'll try not to climb the walls Jo, but I do worry." "I know dear." she said softly. [/b]

Author:	Lesley [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:15 pm ]
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Sounds as though Cecil is just like her mother then - Joey didn't like taking on responsibility at that age either. Hope Cecil can help Daphne - still angry with Dick and Mollie Bettany for allowing their child to reach 16 before letting her leave the home. (((Daphne))) Thanks brie.

Author:	Tara [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:20 pm ]
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This is lovely, Brie, such a joyous and loving family - despite all the teasing!