Twelfth Night - 6th January 1939
Select messages from
# through # FAQ
[/[Print]\]

The CBB -> St Agnes' House

#1: Twelfth Night - 6th January 1939 Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:00 am
    —
Twelfth Night - 6th January 1939

Joey took one last look at the tree in all it's glory, every item chosen and placed with care. Some of them were new, Jack had chosen the lights from a small shop in St Peterport, going into the town specially to find some. Joey had ordered some silver bells via mail order from London and these adorned the lower branches, where they swung merrily and chimed as people passed. However many of the decorations were older. Madge had given them some delicate glass baubles, splitting her extensive collection with them. Some of these Joey remembered from her own childhood, and knew that they were family heirlooms, having belonged to her parents childhood. Others Madge had brought in Austria, where the delicate glasswork was much prized. Those ornaments had travelled through much this last year and Joey had had shed a tear as she had found one she and Frieda had bought on her first Christmas in Austria.

There were heirlooms from Jack's family there as well. The wooden nativity set that sat under the tree was from his childhood, and they had set it up together on Christmas eve, placing the babe in the crib once they returned from midnight Mass. There were large groups of evergreens around the house, full of berries that had been packaged up and sent by Jack's mother from her New Forest home. But best of all was the angel. Joey had opened up the box carefully, noting that it was marked delicate and as she lifted it out Jack had reached over and lifted it reverentially up in his hands to look at.
“This was always the last thing placed on the tree, when everything was ready for her, and the last thing removed after she had guarded our celebrations.”
Joey moved to wrap her arms around him, “What a beautiful idea, she will watch over us just as carefully.”

The angel had done her job and Christmas 1938 had been a peaceful time for them. Their first Christmas dinner they had cooked and eaten together, then had wrapped up and walked to Madge and Jem's where they had spent the rest of the day with the family before being driven back by Jem in the evening. The rest of the time they had spent quietly, taking walks, occasionally meeting up with some of the friends they were slowly making on the Island and in quiet occupations. Jem and Jack had several long talks about the future, closeting themselves away from the women; a sight which made Joey's eyes grow dull, since she knew what they must be talking about. Jack noticing this had taken Jem's advice and then quietly implemented a regime of early nights, walks, nourishing meals and peaceful activities which they hoped would restore strength to her mind and body, both of which were still quick to ail from the effects of their escape from Austria.

Now, much restored after the Christmas season, Joey and Jack were packing the decorations away. The crib had been packaged up, greenery removed, and, after a last look, they began on the tree. Working together they quickly removed the precious breakables, carefully wrapping them up in tissue as they went along and placing in the box. Finally just the angel remained. They stepped back, arm in arm and looked up at her.
“She has done well, I never expected to have such a peaceful Christmas. Not this year,” said Joey as they stood there.
Jack gave her a squeeze, “Our guardian angel, watching over you,”
“Over us both,” Joey corrected him. “You are going to need it more than me if things go as...” she stopped, tears in her eyes, but blinking them back. Jack gathered her into his arms and took a deep breath before speaking.
“They must go that way. We have seen ourselves what Hitler can do, and he must be opposed. It is our duty, evil cannot be allowed to go unchecked. I know you are scared, I am as well, but this is bigger than either of us.”
“You will volunteer won't you?” She already knew the answer, but had to ask, had to hear it.
“Yes, I've spoken to Jem and I can be spared from the San. As soon as war is declared I will sign up, for the navy probably. They will need doctors, and I have a good general experience, in some ways I will be of more use than Jem could be as he has always specialised. Having a doctor available to treat a wounded man quickly can make the difference between life and death.”
“It is part of who you are. I knew you would have to. I just pray it won't be soon, that we can have our first year together.”
“I think we will get that, it looks unlikely that there will be war before the summer. We can see this winter out together, but don't pray for it to be put off, too much is at stake.” He forbore to say that more would suffer as their friends had done, and were doing if it was left, but it was in his mind, and Joey knew the unspoken thought.
“I love you Jack Maynard.” She reached up and pecked him on the cheek.

Jack gave her one last squeeze, glad that his plans were now in the open between them, glad he had ignored Jem's advice and discussed them with her, and satisfied that despite her tear-filled eyes she had borne his decision with an obvious pride in him and a bravery that spoke well of her recovery. He climbed back on the step and took the angel from the top of the tree, passing her to Joey to wrap. Joey took her and began to cover the figure with tissue, then as he got down and lifted the steps to take them back outside she stopped and unwrapped it once more.
“I think she can stay out, she is so beautiful and it feels good to see her watching over us, I'll put her in the corner of the dresser where she can see all our comings and goings.”

The old angel stood in the corner of the dresser and watched, and cared and guarded. Later that year when Jack, true to his word joined up the day after war was declared she stood guard over Joey and the precious burden she carried.

#2:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:53 am
    —
Beautiful, Carolyn. I do like the idea of the angel, especially given the timing....

#3:  Author: FatimaLocation: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:53 am
    —
That was absolutely beautiful, thank you Carolyn.

#4:  Author: Alison HLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:08 am
    —
That was lovely - thank you, Carolyn.

#5:  Author: arky72Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:43 am
    —
That was really lovely Carolyn, thank you.

#6:  Author: LottieLocation: Humphrey's Corner PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:55 am
    —
What a lovely picture of Jo and Jack's first Christmas together. Thanks Carolyn.

#7:  Author: janemLocation: Ash, Surrey PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:56 am
    —
How beautiful. Thank you

#8:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:47 am
    —
Lovely Carolyn - so glad that Jack and Joey had that first Christmas.

Thank You.

#9:  Author: Helen PLocation: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:06 am
    —
That is lovely - I really like the angel, and the fact that Jem advised Jack to not discuss things with Joey, but that Jack did anyway - that rang very true to the books for me. Smile

Thank you Carolyn.

#10:  Author: Woofter PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:16 am
    —
Lovely! I really like the idea of the angel watching over them. Thanks Carolyn.

#11:  Author: leahbelleLocation: Kilmarnock PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:27 am
    —
Thank you, Carolyn. That was beautiful.

#12:  Author: MaryRLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 1:02 pm
    —
Such a bitter/sweet time.

Thank you, Carolyn

#13:  Author: Amanda MLocation: Wakefield PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:10 pm
    —
That was lovely.
Thank you Carolyn.

#14:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:33 pm
    —
Awwwww. That was lovely.

Thanks, Carolyn Very Happy

#15:  Author: KarolineLocation: Leeds, West Yorkshire PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:35 pm
    —
Thank you Carolyn, that was so lovely

#16:  Author: catherineLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 9:07 pm
    —
That was lovely, Carolyn. Thanks.

#17:  Author: Cath V-PLocation: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 11:15 pm
    —
Thank you Carolyn, that was very poignant.

#18:  Author: Mrs RedbootsLocation: London, UK PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:47 pm
    —
Thank you, Carolyn.

#19:  Author: LisaLocation: South Coast of England PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:13 pm
    —
Ohhh *draws deep satisfied breath* how lovely! Thanks, Carolyn Smile

#20:  Author: JosieLocation: London PostPosted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:21 pm
    —
Wonderful, Carolyn. Thank you. Very Happy

#21:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:27 pm
    —
Oh Carolyn!
That was truly beautiful, thank you sweetie.

#22:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:43 pm
    —
Thank you Carolyn. I'd missed this but it really beautiful.

#23:  Author: JoSLocation: South Africa PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:44 pm
    —
Carolyn - I also missed this. Thanks. I love the thought of the Christmas angel serving as guardian angel.



The CBB -> St Agnes' House


output generated using printer-friendly topic mod. All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group