Such a bitter contrast to what happens to her later with her cousin.
Thanks, Lisa.
| The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/ | |
| A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6038 |
|
| Author: | Lisa_T [ 10 May 2009, 02:50 ] |
| Post subject: | A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Yes indeedy. This is a one-shot written as part of DT character prep, but I can't see why it shouldn't be posted here. In essence, it provides some backstory for Annis, pre CS. If anyone has any character insights or comments, I'd like to hear them. Christmas Day, 1944 Auntie Helen gave Nell, Bets and me journals for Christmas this year. I think Bets was disappointed, but with the war on we all know that there's not much money around for swish gifts in any case. Nell actually told me that she was expecting handmade presents, or even nothing at all like in the first chapter of Little Women. Only they got the little Testaments and we got these journals - red for me, blue for Nell and a soft pinky colour for Bets, 'cos Betsy loves pretty things. Otherwise, they're all exactly alike, and lovely heavy paper, not that cheap nasty wartime economy stuff they always use nowadays. Granny used to hate it, and that made me hate it too 'cos it really doesn't feel nice on your fingers. The paper in the journals is gorgeous though, even mine. I know some people mightn't have given me as nice, but the Maples have never done that.They treat me just as if I was their own girl. I'm not quite sure what to write in it, though. Auntie Helen said we could write what we liked. I asked Nell what she's going to put in hers and she smiled. "I think I'll use it for my poems," she said. Nell likes writing, you see. She's awfully creative - she writes little songs and then plays them for us in the evening sometimes. Sometimes Bets sings, but only on special days, like today, when Nell played lots of Christmas carols for us and Bets sang. I wish I could do that, but I'm not creative. Aunt Helen says I'm sportive and athletic, and she's right, I think. I hate the winter. It's cold and wet and we can't go outside or do anything, but the other two are happy enough inside. But then this is their home and their family. Maybe if I had a proper home and family I'd feel like that too. Daddy always said that since Granny and Gramps were killed it was us two against the world. Once I asked him what would happen if he got killed too. He pulled me into one of his lovey warm safe spicy-smelling hugs. "I'm not going to get killed, Annis-girl." "But what if you are?" I couldn't get the thought out of my head because one of the girls in my form suddenly stopped coming to school. Miss Lane said it was because she had no mother and her father had been killed and she'd had to go all the way down to London to live with her aunt. I don't have any aunts. Miss Lane said it was very good of Mary's aunt to take her in, but I don't want that for me. To be just a duty. Granny always said I could hold my head up high because I come from two honourable old Yorkshire families and I don't need to be beholden to anyone. "I've made arrangements," Dad said. "Don't worry, Annis. You'll always be taken care of, I've made sure of that. You'll never want for anything." I think he thought I was worrying about money, but I wasn't, really. I'm nearly old enough to go out to work if I had to. I wanted to know if there'd be someone who cared if the worst happens. Once I said that to Auntie Helen. She was quite upset. "As long as your uncle William and I are here, there'll always be someone who cares," she told me. She sounded awfully fierce which surprised me because she's usually so gentle. I'd better leave this for now. Bets is yelling that it's my turn to help set the table. I hate doing it, but I'm glad I have to. It means that I'm not just a visitor, I'm family. Later. We've just had a scrummy dinner. Mr Harris next door killed one of the chickens for us, and we had the vegetables from the garden. We all had oranges in our stockings this morning, but Aunt Helen told us to keep them for dessert and so we did. I'd forgotten how nice and tangy they are. Uncle Will got quite tipsy on some of the home made beer that the neighbours were sharing around, but only enough to get red cheeked and a bit silly. He made us laugh. There was no shouting and yelling like there used to be at the people next door to Granny and Gramps. Gramps used to shake his head and say they were in their cups again, and Granny would sniff and say that really, someone should tell them about Temperance, but I don't think anyone ever did. I wonder if they're still there. I miss Granny and Gramps. I wish they hadn't gone to Hull that day. I hate the Germans. The minister always says that we shouldn't hate the Germans, it's the Nazis that are evil. It's easy for him to say. He's not out there fighting and neither are his family. We're safe here in Welton, everyone says. That's why all the little London kids get evacuated here. I did too, but I wasn't being evacuated like they were, Granny said. I was coming home, really. I was born here, even though Mummy and Dad went back to London as soon as Mummy was well enough to travel. You do feel sorry for some of the kids, though. Some of them have never been to the country before. They didn't know that flowers grow in the ground! Nell wants me to go down and join in with charades. "Are Aunt Helen and Uncle Will playing?" I ask. She grins. "Of course. It's Christmas. Mummy's even got some of Aunt Elizabeth's clothes down from the loft just for this. You know, from before the last war? There's an absolutely killing hat." "What's wrong with it?" "Apart from the aviary of dead birds on it?" "How beastly. Imagine killing birds just to put them on your hat." "Perhaps they were already dead," Nell suggests, her blue eyes twinkling. I scoff. "P'rhaps your great aunt was like you and scared the birds." "I never did! That wasn't my fault!" I love it when Nell gets indignant. "Oh no? Bets says that Bertie was perfectly well until you literally frightened the life out of him and bumped him off." "Elizabeth doesn't know what she's talking about," Nell says grimly. "As for you, you horrid kid, you'd better come down pronto unless you want to be left with the corset and knickerbockers." Much later. Charades was absolutely spiffing. Aunt Helen doesn't like it when I use slang like that, or when Nell and Bets do, but everyone else does, and honestly, I can't think of any proper English to express how I feel. I'm sore from laughing. It's been a smashing day, and this is my third one here! I think it's the best of all. Maybe this time next year the war will be over and Dad will be home. I wonder if I can make a wish instead of a resolution for New Year. I think I'll try it anyway. |
|
| Author: | Lesley [ 10 May 2009, 08:11 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
I do like this - and it makes it so understandable that Annis would rebel so fiercely. Why on Earth didn't her father arrange matters with the Maples rather than a distant cousin? I suppose he thought family was better - but it so obviously wasn't! How old is Annis in this? Thanks Lisa |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ 10 May 2009, 08:25 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
It's good to see some of Annis's "back story". |
|
| Author: | Lisa_T [ 10 May 2009, 13:14 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
*g* I can't actually remember how old Annis is supposed to be, 'zackly. She's around 11/12, I think, although she probably sounds a little younger than that. P'raps the Maples are like Joey and believe in keeping their wards/girls young... |
|
| Author: | MaryR [ 10 May 2009, 15:24 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Such a bitter contrast to what happens to her later with her cousin. Thanks, Lisa. |
|
| Author: | Lisa [ 10 May 2009, 19:51 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Thanks muchly  A lovely real voice for Annis!
|
|
| Author: | abbeybufo [ 10 May 2009, 21:34 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
This makes Annis seem much more real and grounded. Thank you Lisa_T
|
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ 10 May 2009, 21:35 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Thankyou, that was so sad. |
|
| Author: | Fiona Mc [ 11 May 2009, 12:20 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Thanks Lisa. It was so nice seeing Annis's life before the Chalet School. Poor girl |
|
| Author: | Kathy_S [ 12 May 2009, 23:54 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
Thank you, Lisa. Very realistic kid. I hope she'll recover more of this zest in DT. (My first response was -- 'That can't be her horrible aunt!' Some of us are a little slow... Yes, of course, the Maples....) |
|
| Author: | Cath V-P [ 13 May 2009, 11:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Day in the Life of Annis Lovell [complete] |
That was so poignant, in the light of what happens later. Thank you Lisa. |
|
| All times are UTC [ DST ] | |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ | |