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Hilda's Advent
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3646
Author:  Carolyn P [ 26 Nov 2007, 12:37 ]
Post subject:  Hilda's Advent
Here is the short drabble I wrote for the Leeds Gather this last weekend.


Hilda settled back into her chair and closed her eyes. This was her favourite time of day at her favourite time of year. She could feel the warmth from the slippers she had put on prior to sitting down spreading through her feet, and wriggled her toes as she felt them relaxing. Reaching out a hand, she found the switch on the radio and turned it, smiling as she heard the opening bars of Bach's St Matthew Passion. She sat for a while listening in silence, enjoying a short time of peace in a busy term. As she listened to the music she began to let her thoughts drift, first to the happenings of that evening, the first full run through of this years nativity play. It was only a rehearsal, but already she could see it taking shape, see the way the girls responded to the storyline and to the direction from Kathie Ferrars. This year the play had been co-written by Joey and Con Maynard, both old girls of the school and both in tune with not just the traditions of the school, but the spirit of what they were doing with the annual play.

She let her mind drift further back, over past nativity plays, and closer to her heart, the girls who had been in them. Some she had lost contact with, some had never remained in contact, but nevertheless were famous enough in their own fields for her to come across their names every now and again. There were those who lost contact until they had daughters of their own and others who had kept closer ties with the school, coming to events like the play and the sale, turning up unexpectedly just 'to see the old place again' and finding everything the same, yet also different.

That was how she had felt herself several years ago when quite by chance she had found herself visiting her own old school. It was when she had been part of an international team of inspectors, looking at different schools around Europe and their approach to teaching across different curricula. She had found it an odd experience, all but one of the staff had changed, there was a new building, an extension at the side of the main school, the curriculum had drasticaly changed, and yet somehow it was the same. The same uniform, the same smell of floor polish in the enterance hall, the same laughter from the quad that floated up to the windows on the landing outside the staff room where miscreants still sat. She discovered that when she sat in the middle school rooms she still wanted to smile and giggle at the least thing, and could feel without looking where she had carved her initials on the underside of the windowsill. When in the sixth form, which still retained the same studious, expectant, and slightly nervous atmosphere that she remembered, she could recall the faces of her classmates, long forgotten, as they bent over their books, cramming for the various examinations they were all facing.

She could only remember one nativity play from her own schooldays, a simple re-telling of the story done when she was in Kindergarten. She had been an angel with no lines to speak, but just a choral hymn to join in with, 'Hark the Herald Angels sing.' It was a bittersweet memory for her, as the only picture of it she could bring to mind was not of the stage, but of looking out into the audience and seeing her mother sat in the middle of a row, smiling proudly at her. It was the only Christmas she came. The following year she had to attend a Diosecian meeting, and never saw Hilda as she gave the shortest reading at the school carol service. There would be many more times they all thought. By the Christmas after she was dead.

Hilda stired as the music came to the last aria, and wiped the solitary tear that she found on her cheek. Shaking herself she reached out to turn off the radio, and as she did the door to her siting room gently opened. Hilda turned, knowing only one person would walk in without knocking.
“Thought you might like this,” Nell walked across the room, holding out a glass with a measure of amber liquid in it towards her friend.
“Thanks,” Hilda took the glass and sipped at the contents, “An Islay malt, your favourite. I am honoured.”
“Laphroaig, a ten year old. Thought the occasion warrented it.”
“The occasion?” questioned Hilda.
“Don't tell me you've forgotten the date?”
Hilda looked puzzled for a moment and then light dawned, “Oh, but I haven't done that in years.”
Nell passed her a large flat envelope and Hilda looked at her in amazement, “You haven't?”
“You'll only find out if you open it,” rejoined Nell, “and do so quickly, some of us have to get back to St Mildred's before we can go to bed tonight.”
Hilda overlooked the grammer as she stiffled her giggles at opening the envelope and finding it did contain exactly what she suspected. She laid the item on her desk and for a minute the two Heads poured over it.
Hilda's sharp eyes noticed it first and reaching out she opened the first window on the advent calendar to find a small picture of an angel.

“Hark the Herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King”
Author:  Lottie [ 26 Nov 2007, 13:42 ]
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That's lovely. Thanks, Carolyn! :D
Author:  Jennie [ 26 Nov 2007, 14:12 ]
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Thanks, Carolyn.
Author:  Alison H [ 26 Nov 2007, 14:51 ]
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That was lovely.
Author:  LizB [ 26 Nov 2007, 15:02 ]
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Awwwww. Thanks, Carolyn :D
Author:  MaryR [ 26 Nov 2007, 15:15 ]
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Bitter-sweet memories for her, Carolyn. Thank you.
Author:  Fi [ 26 Nov 2007, 15:38 ]
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That was lovely Carolyn. It's nice that Hilda can get a moment of peace and quiet when she can just think.
Author:  brie [ 26 Nov 2007, 21:08 ]
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Thanks Carolyn, that was lovely.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 27 Nov 2007, 09:18 ]
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Thanks Carolyn
Author:  Kathy_S [ 28 Nov 2007, 04:25 ]
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Thank you, Carolyn. :D
*reminds self to reread on official day*
Author:  Sal [ 28 Nov 2007, 23:17 ]
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That was lovely, thanks Carolyn
Author:  leahbelle [ 03 Dec 2007, 18:13 ]
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Thanks, Carolyn!
Author:  Vikki [ 05 Dec 2007, 20:47 ]
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That was lovely Carolyn. Thank you!
Author:  Elbee [ 05 Dec 2007, 23:31 ]
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Lovely, thank you Carolyn.
Author:  Rosalin [ 06 Dec 2007, 13:44 ]
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Thanks for sharing it with us Carolyn.
Author:  Jools [ 17 Dec 2007, 11:23 ]
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Lovely - thank you Carolyn
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