The CBB :: View topic - For Auld Lang Syne

#1: For Auld Lang Syne Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:35 pm

"Posty!"

Nell Wilson couldn't help laughing as her secretary, Gillian Culver, burst into the study, arms full of packages and envelopes containing the week's correspondence.

"That's a ghastly lot of mail, Gillian," she remarked drily, as the young girl, having deposited of her burdens, dropped into a nearby chair while feigning an atittude of complete exhaustion. "Are you certain you haven't accidentally nicked all our neighbours' packages on top of our own?"

"And to think you used to hold me accountable for slang, Bill!" protested an aggrieved Gillian. "You're quite as bad as I am, though I would say you're worse, for you haven't been thoroughly squashed about your use of slang by just about every one of your former colleagues! I, on the other hand, have had that esteemed pleasure - repeatedly!"

Nell laughed. "It's the Christmas holidays, my dear. We don't stand on ceremony here... or at least, I don't, however perfect your English might be." Grey eyes twinkling, she smiled at her erstwhile pupil. "But are you certain that whole pile is ours? And here I was hoping for a nice quiet break - we've seen the last of the girls off, and I thought we could close up the chalet in peace without having to handle a veritable deluge of correspondence before we depart for England next week."

"I'm sure most of this can wait," Gillian responded cheerfully, sifting through the heap casually. "Yes, it's mostly bills, which we should pay after the holidays at any rate, for no banks will welcome our custom this late in the year. Some of these packages and letters are for the girls too - I fancy they were posted off too late, and Peggy and Dickie, at least, will have to open these books when they return for the next term." She indicated a couple of envelopes, fairly bursting with letters that were approaching manuscript length. "Some of these are new girls -" she held up a few neatly-typed envelopes that clearly contained business letters, "this one's for me, here's some for the staff... oh, and here's a letter for you, Bill! From the Abbess, no less!"

At this, Nell's eyes lit up, and she reached eagerly for the letter. Gillian, always one of the more perceptive among her set, had realised over this first term at St Mildred's just how much the Head had missed the companionship of her partner, Hilda Annersley, who had remained as Headmistress of the main Chalet School, which remained on the tiny Welsh island of St Briavel's. Both the Heads had been far too busy over the term to exchange more than a few postcards and the occasional minute-long telephone conversation. Although Bill - Gillian had not yet reconciled herself to calling her dragon of a former science mistress Nell! - clearly enjoyed her new position at the head of the Chalet School's finishing branch, it was just as evident that there were moments when she sorely missed the lady with whom she used to share a study, even if it was just to have the chance to discuss everything from their students to the weather (one of Bill's pet subjects) or the latest books they were reading.

"I'll make myself scarce, shall I?" Grinning, Gillian gathered up her own letters and headed for the door. "Give the Abbess my love, if you're deigning to fashion a reply for her quickly!"

"You impertinent young thing!" Nell laughed, and made shooing motions at the former Head Girl. "Be gone with you - just remember we're to take a walk down with Matron to Lauterbach before Abendessen. I thought it would be nice to have a quiet Christmas Eve stroll around the village before we came back here for a meal."

"Rather!" Gillian agreed cheerfully, before she took herself off to her own pretty room. She turned on the radio for company, tuning it to a station that was playing Christmas carols, and was soon immersed in a long screed from her newly engaged friend, Daisy Venables, soon to be Daisy Rosomon.

Nell, on her part, turned to her letter with barely-contained joy. Even though she had last spoken to Hilda on the phone just two days ago, it still felt like far too long, and she was keen now to find out all her friend's news. With a motion that spoke of frequent practice, she slit open the envelope and extracted several pages filled with Hilda's beautiful, flowing script, and started to read.

Last edited by CBB Secret Santa on Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:18 am; edited 2 times in total

#2: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:50 pm

Oh how I like to read about Gillian! Thanks Santa, this is lovely. Is there going to be more, please?

#3: Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:19 pm

Nell my dear! - the letter began,

We have had such a term of it that I do not know where to begin. But I haven't had a chance to fill you in on all the gory details yet, so I thought I had better do it now. I don't think I could wait until you return for your visit in the New Year to tell you all that has happened since you left. Some of it has been overwhelming, and you must prepare yourself to read about a series of veritable shocks, for that's the word I feel best characterises the term we've had. You don't know how many times this past few weeks I wished you were right here in our - well, my study, now, with me.

"Hear hear!" Nell chuckled to herself as she read this. She herself had frequently wished for Hilda to suddenly appear at any point during the hectic first term she'd had setting up St Mildred's.

Let's start with your old friend Con Mackenzie, nee Stewart - Hilda's letter continued. Bless or curse her, I don't know, but Con somehow managed to wish a little firebrand (I've underlined this and yet the emphasis is somehow still lacking!) upon us, with her rapturising about the virtues of this school of ours. For all our hard work, we found ourselves suddenly saddled with young Miss Emerence Hope from Australia, born to parents who let her do everything she pleased when she pleased. Yes, Nell, you may roll your eyes.

Nell laughed at this - "How well you know me, Hilda," she murmured.

A more reprehensible, cheeky young lady we've never had, I say with great disrespect for English grammar. She cheeked the prefects on her first day, if you please, and was frightfully rude to Rosalie on one occasion. You know how sweet-tempered our Rosalie is - you could upset your tea all over her books and she would still smile and apologise for her things being in your way! (Ahem - I dimly recall someone having done this in the distant past.)

Nell couldn't help grinning somewhat guiltily at the memory. She still maintained that she had simply forgotten she was carrying a cup of tea the day she had been engrossed in a letter and bumped into Rosalie's desk on the way to her own.

She saw red with Emerence though, and I can't say I blame her - the monkey came strolling down the front stairs, if you please, and spent an entire morning simply refusing to climb the back stairs although Rosalie and Jeanne and Ivy Stephens sat with her and each one of them insisted that she would get no respite until she did. The girl gave in at the end, of course, but she did last through the morning, which is more than I would have thought any young girl of her age could have done. I would have said that here was someone who might beat you at standing your ground, if I didn't know what a world champion you are at it!

"Libel!" Nell declared to the empty room. "I'll get you for this, Hilda!"

No need for revenge, Nell - Hilda's missive continued placidly - you know as well as I do that there's no use arguing the fact that you're a most obstinate creature when you want to be. All the better for the simply marvellous way you quell those Middles. Back to the shocks, however - this isn't even the half of it, my dear! At my most superstitious moments, I do sometimes wonder if our school doesn't carry around a bit of a malignant curse with it. Notwithstanding the escape from Austria, we had that double-quick remove from Guernsey, the drains at Plas Howell - and now the incredibly sinking island of St Briavel's!

Nell had, of course, already heard from an earlier telephone conversation of the mysterious well into which the new games mistress, Peggy Burnett, had launched herself - and the subsequent minor flooding that had occurred throughout the school grounds. But she couldn't help laughing at Hilda's turn of phrase - her friend did always have a way with words!

I've told you about our intrepid Peggy and her little misadventure, our esteemed prefects' inadvertent swim in the mud, and Commander Christy's belief that we're sitting on a wealth of pirate treasure. But I don't believe I've told you how Emerence got her own oar in and contrived to FLOOD THE ENTIRE ISLAND! I'm sorry - I reprimand the girls for melodrama in their written compositions, but this was truly an occasion that called for it. She didn't really, of course, although she came close to making things dreadfully inconvenient for all concerned. She appears to have had a few dust-ups (where is my language going!) with other girls in her form, and even with our one and only Mary-Lou, so she got it into her head to stem the flow of the new little lake Commander Christy's crew had fashioned in the Hollow. Miss Hope, even resourceful, found an abandoned scarecrow and with a strength we didn't know she had (and which we will certainly be keeping an eye on in years to come!), managed to wedge the poor object in so that the entire area just turned into one big swamp. You may gasp and express rank disapproval at this point - I was horrified!

Last edited by CBB Secret Santa on Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

#4: Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:21 pm

Nell shook her head, and laughed ruefully. She had to admit that, aside from the business with Elma Conroy, it was far easier to run the Welsen branch where the girls were concerned, as they were all generally grown-up, level-headed young beings. Poor Hilda - her hair would certainly lose all its lovely brown colour at the rate the Middles were going! From her friend's description, Emerence alone would account for any number of grey hairs. The two of them would make quite a picture then, Nell mused, with Hilda's hair grey all over, and herself, white as the snow falling quietly outside her window.

I'd have given just about anything to have had you there with me in the room, Nell, when it came time to pass judgement on the young unfortunate. Commander Christy wasn't much help. He expected me to take a belt to the girl, I think, which - aside from being against school policy and tradition! - would only have turned her into a rebellious monkey, on top of a thoughtless, reckless one! I felt so sorry for the girl, and I'm sure you would have too, for her parents really were to blame for her utterly reprehensible behaviour. For all her faults, however, Emerence is a truthful little being, for which I'm thankful. We had a good chat, one I hope she won't forget in the years to come, and I'm rather hopeful now that we might make a Chalet girl of her yet.

Again Nell smiled to herself. If anyone could make this imp into a respectable schoolgirl that any reputable establishment would be proud to call its own, she knew it would be Hilda. She had never met anyone, in her whole long experience teaching, who had such an effect on young girls as her friend. She turned her attention back to the letter.

Well, I see I've written you a novel - certainly one of my best efforts all term, and one I expect you to reciprocate at some point! I would love to hear more about the Oberland, especially since there's a very real possibility we might want to move most of the main school to join you there at some point in the future. Besides, I only managed to get the barest details of the whole Elma Conroy affair from you before you had to ring off last time. I do regret not having had the chance to speak to Peggy Bettany when she returned, but the term was so fraught with disaster I couldn't seem to find the time during her 'flying visit' to do anymore than 'phone her the one time. All I can say is I'm glad you're there with her, Nell - your strength has done right by me before, and would have been immeasurably comforting for the poor girl.

Now I must finish - you know as well as I the woeful amount of correspondence we poor souls get as Headmistresses of proper schools. I have several letters to get off by the mid-day post, but I couldn't let this one go without a missive from me to you. At last, I hear you say? You have no right, my dear, unless you've already posted off a similarly long master work to my honourable self! Until the New Year, I remain

Yours affectionately,
Hilda

Last edited by CBB Secret Santa on Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:46 pm; edited 1 time in total

#5: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:44 pm

Thanks Santa Smile

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

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:41 am

What a lovely letter - and how Hilda-ish it sounds.

#7: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 3:30 am

Lovely - A lovely glimpse

#8: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:03 am

That was a lovely letter, thanks, Santa.

#9: Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:08 am

Nell sat back in her chair. It wasn't the same, of course, a letter and a conversation, but reading Hilda's words had still been an unmitigated pleasure. Running an entirely new school in a foreign land, with a batch of quite grown-up girls she had never met in her life, had kept her busy all term. But she had never been too busy to occasionally wish for the convenience of settling herself next to Hilda in a comfortable armchair, and just chatting the night away, as they had done so many times before. She missed having someone to laugh with when she had corrected a particularly tragic example of a geography exercise, in which Canada might as well have been the moon for all the reality that had gone into the preparation of the assignment, and she just felt she had to point it out to Hilda with an exaggerated groan of dismay. Sometimes they didn't even talk - just read or knitted or did the crossword in companionable silence.

Julie Berne and Grace Nalder were good friends, and Gertrude Rider even a contemporary, all of them having been with the school in the Tyrol when Nell was there. But Nell knew how much she really missed Hilda, and would continue to do so every term they were apart. She felt a wave of something akin to misery washing over her, and she resolutely pushed it aside. Now was not the time for mawkish sentiment - Gillian and Gertrude would find her most poor company if she should give in to her maudlin self-pity at this present moment!

The least she could do, Nell decided, was respond to Hilda's letter with one of her own. Since it was so late into the Christmas rush, she would probably do better to hand-deliver it than to trust it to the post, but write a reply she would. Thus decided, Nell extracted writing paper and fountain pen from her desk drawer, and set herself to writing to her friend.

She had barely written Hilda's name at the top of the page when the telephone rang.

#10: Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:13 am

"This is the Chalet School - Nell Wilson speaking," she said automatically into the receiver, expecting it to be an over-excited parent eager to hear more about the school from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

"No, this is the Chalet School! And it's Hilda Annersley speaking!" returned a deep, melodious voice that Nell knew all too well. "Nell, how are you?"

"Hilda!" Nell cried gleefully. "I'm as well as can be expected - and just read that lengthy epistle of yours. Have you considered a second career? I must say you have quite a talent for writing adventure stories!"

"I ask you, have you ever heard of a term more riddled with disaster?" Hilda demanded, the humour in her voice unmistakable.

"Would you like me to list them?" Nell returned immediately. "Any one term in the Tyrol ought to suffice - I'm surprised I only turned white relatively later, Jo Bettany and her escapades were enough to age anyone prematurely. We've had a far quieter term compared to you, which I'm thankful for. The girls have settled in better than I could have hoped, given that they were from such diverse backgrounds."

"I'm glad to hear that," Hilda said warmly. "Although you know I never had the slightest doubt in your abilities to make a go of it, my dear! If they had scrapped at any point, you would have been on the spot so quickly they'd have dissolved into nothing and done your every bidding."

"My reputation precedes me, I see," was Nell's cheerful rejoinder. "I can tell from your letter that you're none the worse for all the wear the term has imposed on you, for which I'm glad. I was a little concerned you might stress yourself too much with all the Emerence business. Every time I got a call from you, I could just see another hair on your scalp going grey!"

"Still as brown as ever - last time I checked," Hilda replied. "I'm afraid I can't stay on the line too long though, Nell. It's expensive, for one thing, and for another, I have to run the car down to Carnbach in about half an hour. But it was Christmas Eve, and I just had to say hello."

"I won't keep you then. But I can't tell you how wonderful it is to hear your voice tonight, Hilda," Nell said sincerely. "I was just sitting here, about to reply to your letter, and feeling distinctly sorry for myself." She hesitated for a moment, then added, in rather a gruff voice, "I've missed you these past few weeks."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "And I've missed you just as much, Nell. It's been... difficult and different without you here. I hadn't realised how strange it would be to go back to the days when I had my own study and I was the only Head. I had grown so accustomed to you and your help and... well, your presence."

"I recall someone being rather territorial in the first few weeks when we shared a study," Nell teased gently. "You kept refusing to let me borrow your pens!"

"That's only because you never gave them back!" her friend snapped playfully. "I never understood where all those pens go - you're neat as a pin, and I've hunted through your entire desk, and never found one again. I finally gave it up as a bad job, of course. Where do you put them, Nell?"

"It's a mystery to me as well as you," Nell grinned, with little regard for grammar. "If I could explain it, I wouldn't have had to nick your pens all the time!"

"At any rate - I have missed you, my dear. And I'll be only too glad when you get off that plane at Heathrow a week or so from now. Watch for me, won't you?"

"Of course! Even if I've gone blind, I'll make someone keep a lookout. Thank you for calling - I don't know why, but it suddenly feels a lot more like Christmas for me!" Nell confessed.

"Thank you for saying that, Nell," Hilda replied quietly. "Hearing your voice has done the same thing for me. Now I really must go - but listen, I will be in Carnbach to get some necessities today, and I plan to attend one of the Masses in the evening, in honour of you. I still remember that lovely Mass you took me to last Christmas, after you attended my service. I'll think of you then, my dear, and pray for you and the school too. Keep well, until I see you again!"

Nell rang off, and smiled to herself. She was happier than she had been in weeks, and was now genuinely looking forward to the Christmas Eve Mass she herself intended to attend later that evening. Neither Gillian nor Gertrude were Catholics, so she had expected to go alone. But now she knew that she would have a companion - even if that person was several thousand miles away!

Just then, someone knocked on her door.

"Come in," Nell called, checking her watch and realising it was time to meet her two compatriots for their planned stroll.

Gillian entered the room, already clad in a warm coat and her nailed boots, a warm woolly hat shoved down on her tumbling curls. "Ready to go, Bill?" she asked cheerfully. "Here's my latest from Daisy, by the way - she said it was O.K. for you to take a gander at her news, as she simply hasn't time to write to everyone separately."

"Thank you!" Nell said, accepting the letter proffered by Gillian, and setting it on her desk. "It's lengthy, isn't it? I'll have a read when we get back from dinner later."

The irrepressible Gillian nodded, and led the way down the corridor to where the staff's coats were hung. Once there, she turned to her erstwhile headmistress and asked, in a rather more respectful tone, "I say, Bill, would you be going to Mass tonight? I'm C of E, but I've always loved attending Christmas Eve Mass when I get the chance - it's so peaceful and just... beautiful. Would you mind dreadfully if I accompanied you?"

Slightly startled by this request, Nell suddenly remembered all the times she had been on holiday with Hilda, and her friend had made the same request. She recalled Hilda's last words from just a few minutes ago, and smiled to herself.

"Of course not." Nell pulled on her own coat and knotted her scarf across her chest, then walked over to take Gillian's arm. "I would be honoured."

#11: Author: CBB Secret Santa,

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:17 am

That turned out rather longer than I expected. Embarassed

I know Auld Lang Syne is more of a New Year's Eve kind of song, but it was the sentiment that I found most compelling - for Christmas is a time for remembering and being with family and old friends, even if they're entire countries away. Hilda and Nell found each other this Christmas, and I hope all of you will do the same with your loved ones. For all on the CBB and especially Joey, have a blessed, blessed Christmas this year!

Happy Holidays, all! Smile

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

#12: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:43 am

That was fabulous, Santa. Now I can feel the festive spirit creeping up on me. Thank you for sharing with us all.

#13: Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 7:54 am

This was a delight, Santa !
Thank you so much......
It really is feeling like Christmas now..........

#14: Author: Joey, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:05 am

O wow, Santa, that was amazing. I really felt as if I were there with Nell. I had often wondered how they managed that year they were so far apart - they must have missed each other so much.

I shall be printing this out, together with your earlier drabble about Joey and Jack, to read during my 6 1/2 hour train journey tomorrow!

Thank you so much, Santa - you've really spoiled me this month, and it's helped so much - this has been a stressful month.

Bless you.

#15: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:42 pm

Oh Santa, that was just fabulous.

Lucky, lucky Joey. Laughing

PS When you have the time (or care to reveal yourself Laughing

) I really would love to have the doc of it.

#16: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 8:25 am

amazing, you have captured the characters perfectly.

Thank you, Santa!

Ruth

#17: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:14 pm

Ooh, I liked this. It sounded Lesley-esque - can someone tell me who wrote it? Cuz I'd like to know who to look out for when reading drabbles.

#18: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:29 am

Thank you, Santa. Gaityr? Is that right?

Lovely, lively letter -- but the phone call and its aftermath were even better. Very Happy

#19: Author: gaityr, Location: Singapore

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:49 pm

Fessing up - I've already confessed to being Joey's Secret Santa, so I guess it's okay for me to admit to it here too. Yes, Kathy, I was the demented individual who wrote this for Joey. Wink

Thanks for all your comments, guys - it's all greatly appreciated, and I'm just glad that it gave some people a little Christmas cheer. Smile

#20: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:06 am

I'm a bit late for Christmas cheer, but this is lovely. Very Happy

Thanks Gaityr.

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

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:33 pm

Thanks, Secret Santa/Gaityr. I don't know how I managed to miss this over Christmas - I must be seriously losing the plot. It was lovely to read - thank you for writing it - Joey is lucky to have such a lovely drabble.

I just wish I had found it before New Year. I was in a play at my church on New Year's Day and we needed the words to Auld Lang Syne but nobody could remember them!

The CBB -> St Agnes' House

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