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Understanding Prunella
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Author:  Lisa_T [ Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:33 pm ]
Post subject: 

The conversation between Joey and Miss Annersley in Chapter XVIII of The Chalet School Does It Again where Miss Annersley says '"It isn't often I'm puzzled by a girl, Jo...... but I must confess Prunella has me guessing..."'.[p. 117, GGBP copy] has always annoyed me mightily.

How plausible is it that Joey will miraculously discover the really rather simple insights into Prunella that Hilda Annersley, a teacher with no little experience, has somehow missed?! Here's my version of that conversation, where the gist is the same, but the emphasis is very slightly shifted.

Incidentally, this is another 'first' for me- my first serious drabble since returning.

Enjoy.


Hilda Annersley smiled broadly as her Study door opened to reveal the newly lengthened figure of Len Maynard.

"It's good to see you back at School, Len," she said warmly as that young lady entered, followed by her mother. "I'm sure your own clan will welcome you back with open arms- and a few shrieks at your new height!"

Len giggled at this sally. "I know. Not even Con and Margot have seen me yet!"

Her grey eyes sparkled with mischief at the response she was certain would come from her triplet sisters. Until now, they'd all been more or less the same height, give or take an inch- but Len had suffered most from the recent 'flu epidemic that had swept the Chalet School, and her gain had been accordingly greater.

Her headmistress and brevet aunt laughed. "I can imagine. Very well, my dear, I won't hold you any longer now that you've reported. Go and find Matron and let her know you're back. I'm sure she'll have you settled in again by the time the girls return from their walk, so you may be able to catch your sisters for a few moments then."

Len grinned and nodded. "Yes, Auntie Hilda." She turned to her mother and kissed that lady on the cheek. "I'll see you soon, Mamma?"

Joey nodded and returned the kiss, her eyes following the young girl as she left the room, only belatedly remembering her regulation curtsey. Joey grinned at the sight, having forgotten it a fair few times in her own schooldays.

"Well, Joey," Miss Annersley said, breaking into her thoughts. "What can I do for you this morning?"

"Oh yes. I've been meaning to ask you about that new girl of yours, Prunella Davidson, but what with one thing and another it slipped my mind. But then with this tale of Len's-"

"What tale of Len's?" the Head interjected quickly.

Joey looked surprised. "Hadn't you heard? From all accounts, Len and young Prunella had an outsize in rows on the day Len came down with the 'flu. I must say," Joey added, looking meditative, "I was rather surprised to hear about that. She's far and away the sweetest tempered of the whole eight."

"She was also feeling rather ill by then, I'd imagine," Miss Annersley reminded her. "If that was the case, I'm not surprised she over-reacted to Prunella as she did. And yes, I heard about it, although I gather that Len's explosion came as the result of constant provocation- not that that's any excuse!"

"Provocation? What do you mean, Hilda?"

Miss Annersley allowed herself a chuckle. "Prunella Davidson has made a constant practice of referring to each and every girl by her full name. You should," the Head continued, a mischievous look crossing her face, "have seen the look on Mary-Lou's face when Miss Prunella addressed her as 'Mary-Louise.' Our one and only Mary-Lou did not look at all impressed, I assure you!"

Joey giggled. "Ah, I see. That would explain it, all right. Len hates being called 'Helena'- silly lilttle ass. Although it would seem Nell Wilson shares her opinion." Jo looked wicked. "I must ask her the next time I see her!"

The Head laughed. "You do that. Now, about Prunella. Like I said, she and Len have been at loggerheads the entire term over this name issue, and apparently it came to a head the day Len became ill. I hope," the Head added with some severity, "that this outbreak will jerk Prunella out of this silliness. It really has been going on for far too long!"

Joey looked interested. "You think the kid's putting it on?"

"I know she's putting it on, as you say," the Head retorted. "Apparently the child has spent most of her life with her grandmother whilst her parents were overseas. From all accounts, the old lady spoiled Prunella- who is the only grandchild of her generation- abominably, and when the old lady died rather suddenly and Mrs and Mrs Davidson returned, they found a child who was sulky, rude, and almost unbelievably slangy. Or so Mrs Davidson wrote to me. I'm guessing Prunella read or overheard what was in the letter and thus her current behaviour- almost ridiculously prim!"

Joey gurgled. "I'd have thought you'd be delighted, Hilda! All that be-yew-ti-ful English, from what I've heard- which admittedly isn't much, but Mary-Lou did say something the last time she was over about a new kid who sounded like she'd walked straight out of Evelina, so I'm guessing Prunella's her. It got me curious, and, like I say, I meant to ask."

Miss Annersley's eyebrows lifted. "What does Mary-Lou know about Evelina? It isn't on their literature for this year- and I'd have thought the language would have been beyond the patience of any of that crowd. Speaking of which, you could probably do with a session with Prunella yourself, Joey Maynard!"

Joey grimaced at her, being only too used to the Head's strictures on her English. "Yes. Well. Anyhow, Mary-Lou apparently spent a week during the hols laid up with a bad cold. Read it then, or so she says. I say, Hilda, you don't think that's where young Prunella got her inspiration from, do you?"

"I don't care where she got it from," the Head told her firmly. "I do care that she stops doing it and starts behaving naturally. If she continues as she's doing, she's not going to do herself any favours with her own crowd- witness her quarrel with Len, who, as you say, is one of the sweetest-tempered children imaginable."

"Yes, I see what you mean. To be honest," Joey added, "I'm overcome with admiration at the kid's determination. If she's putting this prunes and prisms act on as- well, as a form of revenge- I'm surprised she's managed to keep it up this long. I know I couldn't have."

"You did quite enough without that, as it was!" the Head put in. "When I look back and remember all your doings, Joey, I wonder my hair isn't as white as Nell Wilson's!"

Joey eyed the thick brown hair that was tied up in a huge knot at the back of her friend's head, and her eyes danced. "I wouldn't worry," she said, with careful innocence. "If it's white hair you want, I'm sure it'll come in soon enough!" Whereat Joey chuckled wickedly, much to Miss Annersley's indignation.

"It comes to us all, Joey my child, as you'll find- and sooner, rather than later, unless I'm much mistaken. Grey shows more on dark hair, you know. And I do hope you won't repeat those comments of yours about Prunella to any of the girls!"

"Give me some credit for common sense, can't you?"

The Head went on as if Joey had not spoken. "In the meantime, there's nothing we can do for Prunella. The episode with Len may or may not make a difference- although I sincerely hope they apologise to one another, at least. From what I've heard, they both did their best to be as rude and insulting to the other as they could!"

Joey nodded. "I rather gathered that, myself. Don't worry about that one, Hilda. I know Len's a tad embarrassed about going off in the way she did, and she means to apologise. If Prunella's got any good in her, she'll respond. At least, I hope she will."

"Oh, I'm sure she will," the Head said soothingly. "She's not a bad girl, by any means. She just needs to get over this silly grudge with her parents and start acting like a schoolgirl again. Having friends will help her do that. You never know," the Head added with some amusement, "she and Len may even pair up."

"I shouldn't have thought so," Joey said, rising. "Prunella's several years older than Len, and it's not even like they're in the same form as Margot and Emmy are."

"Well, we'll find out soon enough. I'm inclined to think an apology from Len might break through to Prunella, age difference or no. There's also the fact that the child is probably still grieving for her grandmother. A friend will help her there too."

Joey paused halfway to retrieving her shawl at this. "Do you want me to have a word with her?"

Hilda Annersley eyed Joey thoughtfully and turned the suggestion in her mind. There was no doubting that Joey had been of help in the past, but this time- "No, I think not, Joey. Thanks for offering, but I honestly do believe it'll sort itself out without any adult intervention- and you know that we prefer it that way, when possible."

"But-"

"Not this time, Joey," Miss Annersley told her gently but inexorably. "Once Prunella feels settled and safe here, her 'prunes and prisms' behaviour, as you call it, should disappear naturally. As for the other, only time will help. Forcing either issue at this point will not. Now, what are you going to do with yourself for the rest of the day?"

Joey shrugged and took the hint. "Go home and have another look at that blessed chapter, I suppose, and help Beth with lessons for Chas and Mike. Are you teaching now, Hilda?"

Miss Annersley nodded. "Yes. I have Upper IVa for literature as soon as the bell goes."

"And there it is!" Joey supplemented as the rich sound of the gong sounded through the house. "I'll be off now in that case. Ta-ta! See you later."

With which she went racing off while the Head picked up an anthology of poetry and made her stately way along to Upper IVa and their lesson.


-fin

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