The CBB
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What dreams may come
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=308
Author:  Elieth [ 11 May 2006, 02:45 ]
Post subject:  What dreams may come
She closed her eyes and relaxed.

To be going to school at last. Sitting in the train, going ever further from home – away – on her own.

The mistresses, so competent and organised. No one had been rushed, but not a minute was wasted. Time was allowed for goodbyes, but not enough for drawn out sentimental fussing. She had been ushered swiftly to a compartment, among a group of similarly aged girls.

The girls were all so friendly, she had been given the coveted corner seat, and had been offered sweets and magazines, shyly offering chocolate in return. They talked of holidays taken and absent friends, but she wasn’t left out. Not the centre of attention, just part of a larger whole. No special concern, save that which would be given to any new girl, leaving for her first term at boarding school.

She sighed, and opened her eyes.

“What’s the matter darling, do you need anything?”

Her mother’s voice. Anxious.

Gentle hands, feeling her forehead, her cheeks. Tucking a blanket more firmly round her shoulders. Needlessly smoothing the already creaseless quilt.

The girl shakes her head fractionally.

She needs nothing, wants nothing, save for her dreams to become reality.
Author:  Chelsea [ 11 May 2006, 04:44 ]
Post subject: 
Very interesting start. I wonder who the girl is.
Author:  Alison H [ 11 May 2006, 07:40 ]
Post subject: 
Also wondering who she is :D .
Author:  ibarhis [ 11 May 2006, 07:56 ]
Post subject: 
My guess is Barbara Lucy... it has to be someone who knows the school and who starts late because of ill health... can you think of anyone else?
Author:  Eilidh [ 11 May 2006, 08:43 ]
Post subject: 
I was thinking Barbara too. Looking forward to more!
Author:  Ruth B [ 11 May 2006, 11:11 ]
Post subject: 
Barbara would be my guess.
Author:  Jennie [ 11 May 2006, 12:19 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, perhaps a little more soon?
Author:  KathrynW [ 11 May 2006, 15:37 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Elieth, this is a really great start and I'm looking forward to seeing more!

Kathryn
Author:  francesn [ 11 May 2006, 22:42 ]
Post subject: 
Definitely more please!

Thanks Elieth
Author:  Elieth [ 12 May 2006, 01:46 ]
Post subject: 
Here's the next little bit, hope you guys like it.

“England!” From the look on the woman’s face, one might have been forgiven for thinking her husband had proposed a move to the further reaches of Outer Mongolia. “But, what about Rebecca?”
“I know, Caroline, but there isn’t another option; you always knew the move out here was temporary, a way for me to get more experience.” He paused, for although he and his wife had to return to England, an old friend had proposed an alternative for Rebecca. He had been in favour of the idea since receiving the letter, the one stumbling block had been whether Caroline would be prepared to let Rebecca go. In his opinion, the child needed school, she spent far too much time alone, was far too serious and the company of lots of jolly girls away from her mother’s overprotectiveness was just the thing.
“He is just as concerned as we are about the impact a return to England would have on her health, and offers a possible solution. There’s a school, in Switzerland, where they cater especially to delicate girls, whose health needs careful monitoring.” Encouraged by the fact that his wife had not immediately protested the idea, Mr Alton continued. “It’s called The Chalet School…”
Author:  Rosy-Jess [ 12 May 2006, 09:04 ]
Post subject: 
*racks her brains*

Rebecca?
Author:  Lesley [ 12 May 2006, 09:32 ]
Post subject: 
An original character then?

(BTW wasn't it Barbara Chester, not Lucy?)

Thanks Elieth.
Author:  Eilidh [ 12 May 2006, 09:36 ]
Post subject: 
Looks interesting. Thank Elieth.
Author:  MaryR [ 12 May 2006, 14:02 ]
Post subject: 
Now you've got us all intrigued, Elieth. :lol:

Thank you.
Author:  RuthY [ 12 May 2006, 20:44 ]
Post subject: 
Looks Interesting. I was thinking Barbara after the first post too! I want to knnow more.

Thanks, Elieth.
Author:  Chair [ 12 May 2006, 20:48 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. This looks really great so far. I look forward to seeing more of Rebecca.
Author:  Elieth [ 13 May 2006, 00:33 ]
Post subject: 
Yes, she is an original character, I'm glad you like her :)

Meanwhile, the subject of their discussion was curled up on the broad windowseat of her bedroom, gazing dreamily out over the view of Wellington Harbour. A half-forgotten sketchpad lay beside her, for she had been engaged in making a pencil study of the ferry, as it came in on the last leg of its journey from Picton, before drifting into one of her favourite daydreams. So absorbed was she in her imaginings, that she failed to hear the knock on her door which preceded her father’s entrance into the room. Startled, she twisted round, and almost fell off the seat.
Author:  Cath V-P [ 13 May 2006, 00:50 ]
Post subject: 
Excellent! A Chalet Girl from New Zealand!!
Author:  Sarah_L [ 13 May 2006, 13:00 ]
Post subject: 
That will be the first one won't it?
Isn't the New Zealand climate similar to the English one, so would have the same effect on Rebecca's health?
Author:  Lucy B [ 13 May 2006, 23:38 ]
Post subject: 
Sorry Sarah - the average New Zealander's view of the English climate is cold, damp, and dark. Not true all the time, I know, but on the whole it is a lot drier down here (unless you live in Auckland or the West coast). Wellington would just be windier!

Thanks Elieth! EBD was too keen to send unwanted characters off to NZ, it's about time someone reversed the trend!
Author:  KathrynW [ 14 May 2006, 00:32 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Elieth, Rebecca looks like a great character and I really look forward to seeing how she gets on at the CS!

Kathryn
Author:  francesn [ 15 May 2006, 17:29 ]
Post subject: 
Jesanne was originally a New Zealander wasn't she?

Thanks Elieth. Looking forward to seeing how Rebecca gets on at the CS.
Author:  Elieth [ 16 May 2006, 10:07 ]
Post subject: 
The next installment...

“Careful there, old girl,” said her father, swiftly steadying her.
“Daddy!” cried Rebecca, flinging herself at him, “what are you doing home?”
“Oh, I had something to discuss with your mother.” he said, then changing the subject, “and since I don’t have to go into the office today, what do you say we take a trip into the city and have lunch there?”
“Can’t say I’ve any objections to that,” said Rebecca with a grin.
“Cheeky object!” replied her father. “You make yourself presentable,” with a meaningful look at her untidy hair, “and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Very quickly, Rebecca was downstairs, hair brushed and tied back into two tidy pigtails, neatly attired in a navy blue skirt and green jumper.
“Very good,” said her father. “You go and hop in the car and wait for me, I’ll be along shortly.”
“Where’s Mummy?” asked Rebecca. “Isn’t she coming too?”
“No,” said her father briefly. “She’s lying down, she – ah, has a headache."
Author:  Alison H [ 16 May 2006, 10:17 ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear, sounds like it's worse than a headache ...
Author:  ibarhis [ 16 May 2006, 10:22 ]
Post subject: 
Hysterics at the idea of her only daughter going to boarding school?
Author:  Chair [ 16 May 2006, 10:42 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. I hope they have a nice lunch.
Author:  KathrynW [ 16 May 2006, 11:51 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Elieth!

Kathryn
Author:  Fatima [ 16 May 2006, 16:12 ]
Post subject: 
ibarhis wrote:
Hysterics at the idea of her only daughter going to boarding school?


My first thought was that she was about to pop her clogs and that was why Rebecca would be going to boarding school. I much prefer the hysterics solution. By the way, Rebecca is such a charming name for a heroine!
Author:  Lesley [ 16 May 2006, 20:11 ]
Post subject: 
I expect mother thought that, if she had hysterics father wouldn't insist! :roll:

Thank you Elieth
Author:  RuthY [ 16 May 2006, 20:13 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Elieth. Wonder what's wrong with Rebecca's mother.
Author:  Kathy_S [ 16 May 2006, 22:25 ]
Post subject: 
Not sure I'd be too ecstatic if my husband just informed me we were moving thousands of miles, and by the way, daughter could just go to boarding school .... 'Course he may have had his reasons.

Rebecca sounds a good character though! I did think Barbara in the first section, but she's become herself already....

Fatima wrote:
Rebecca is such a charming name for a heroine!

*giggles at Becky-Fatima*
Author:  Elieth [ 17 May 2006, 04:09 ]
Post subject: 
Yes, Mrs Alton is indulging in an outsize in tantrums. I wasn't intending for her to go this way, but she seems to have a mind of her own. There'll be more about her coming soon.

Later, while Mr Alton enjoyed an after lunch coffee and Rebecca toyed with the melting remains of a creaming soda, a group of schoolgirls walked past, two by two, and Mr Alton was startled to see strange look pass across Rebecca’s face.
“Why, what ever is the matter, Rebecca?” he asked
“N –nothing,” she stammered. For a moment, she had forgotten she was out, and had been imagining herself one of those girls, so smart in their tidy tunics and blazers, quietly chattering to each other as they walked. Maybe they had been on a class trip somewhere – there was a new exhibition at the museum, perhaps they had been to see that - and now they were going to go back to lessons. She had wondered what they would do this afternoon, even the idea of a maths lesson was invested with a certain glamour for Miss Rebecca. All of a sudden, she made up her mind, after all, Daddy could only say yes or no, and if he said no, then nothing would change, but if he said yes…
Author:  Lesley [ 17 May 2006, 05:23 ]
Post subject: 
Poor Rebecca.

Thanks Elieth.
Author:  KathrynW [ 17 May 2006, 10:06 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Elieth, I hope school doesn't disappoint Rebecca!

Kathryn
Author:  ibarhis [ 17 May 2006, 11:27 ]
Post subject: 
Just reread this and had a thought, which old friend recommends the school and will be writing to Joey, Hilda et al the standard letter with which so many books seem to really start.
Author:  francesn [ 17 May 2006, 13:06 ]
Post subject: 
Or which Doctor know Sir James, and is happy to recommend the school started by his wife when she was Miss Bettany in Austria...

Seems like Rebecca's father will agree to the idea of school though, which is a good thing.
Author:  Elle [ 17 May 2006, 14:42 ]
Post subject: 
I am liking this very much!

Thank you.
Author:  Fatima [ 17 May 2006, 15:01 ]
Post subject: 
Yes, I'm enjoying it, too, thanks.
Author:  RuthY [ 17 May 2006, 17:22 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the update Elieth. I am enjoying this.
Author:  Elieth [ 20 May 2006, 09:26 ]
Post subject: 
“DaddyIwanttogotoschool,” she said quickly, before she lost her nerve, the effect being her words tumbled one over the other, leaving the whole utterance completely unintelligible.
Her father blinked. “Would you like to say that again,” he said, “at perhaps one fifth the speed?”
Rebecca flushed, and stared at her hands. “I want to go to school.” Having said this, she stopped, then taking a deep breath, continued. “Please, I’m just so awfully sick of always being at home, everything’s always ‘don’t’ and being fussed over and not doing anything because I might catch something, and – and I’m fourteen now, not a baby, and – and I just want to be like anyone else.” She faltered to a stop, unsure if the silence from her father’s side of the table was encouraging or not, then glanced up at him.
For his part, Mr Alton was somewhat dumbfounded. His intention in taking Rebecca out to lunch had been to tentatively broach the subject of school, and see how she reacted. He certainly had not expected that she would be asking him before he could even mention the subject.
“Well, if that is what you really want,” he said. “I have some rather exciting news for you –“
Author:  Lesley [ 20 May 2006, 09:34 ]
Post subject: 
Awwww, she'll be pleased - bet her mum isn't though!

Thanks Elieth
Author:  Fatima [ 20 May 2006, 09:44 ]
Post subject: 
What a relief for her father, to find that she really wants to go to school.
Author:  Chair [ 20 May 2006, 10:03 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. I'm glad that Rebecca wants to go to school.
Author:  Alison H [ 20 May 2006, 10:26 ]
Post subject: 
Glad she likes the idea of going to school.
Author:  KathrynW [ 20 May 2006, 12:34 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Elieth, I hope her mother isn't going to make this difficult for her. I'm sure school will do her the world of good!

Kathryn
Author:  francesn [ 20 May 2006, 12:37 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Elieth - bet that's smoothed the way with her father.
Author:  Alice [ 20 May 2006, 13:50 ]
Post subject: 
Just read all of this. My first thoughts when I read 'Rebecca' were Trebizon! Really enjoying it and looking forward to more.
Author:  Jennie [ 20 May 2006, 15:45 ]
Post subject: 
Well, she doesn't seem to have had much of a life so far, so school ought to be good for her.
Author:  BethC [ 20 May 2006, 17:08 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. Looking forward to seeing how Rebecca gets on - and what her mother thinks of it all!
Author:  Elieth [ 23 May 2006, 08:03 ]
Post subject: 
“I’ve made up my mind, and nothing you say or do will make me change it,” Mrs Alton said, her eyes hard and unyielding.
“Caroline, let’s at least talk about this like rational adults.”
She turned away, mouth set in a petulant line, and stalked through the bedroom door, the clicking of her heels on the floor punctuated by the snick of the lock.
Author:  Eilidh [ 23 May 2006, 08:39 ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear...

Thanks Elieth
Author:  Chair [ 23 May 2006, 11:58 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. I'm sorry that Caroline isn't listening.
Author:  Róisín [ 27 May 2006, 12:31 ]
Post subject: 
Just read this all the way through and it's wonderful. I know nothing about NZ and hope she has some session later when she tells her new schoolmates all about it! Thanks Elieth, looking forward to more.
Author:  Jennie [ 27 May 2006, 15:45 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth, I'll look forward to more of this.
Author:  Caty [ 28 May 2006, 02:29 ]
Post subject: 
I've just caught up on this & I'm loving it. Nice to know the places described too! :lol:
Author:  Elieth [ 28 May 2006, 06:09 ]
Post subject: 
Next little bit. Sorry if I'm a bit erratic with updates, but baby Zach hasn't been well.

Rebecca stood on the platform at the train station, clutching her nightcase nervously in both hands. Now that the time to actually leave for school had come, she was feeling rather peculiar, not happy and excited as she had imagined she would feel in her daydreams, but rather more like there were butterflies in her middle. Maybe it was because everything had been so strange. Instead of, as she had thought would happen, her parents and her traveling back to England by ship, she and her father had flown back, without Mummy. For some reason, which no one would discuss with or around her, Mummy was going to stay in New Zealand, and Daddy was going to live in London. Daddy had said she wasn’t to worry, but to enjoy herself as much as possible at school and that everything would sort itself out, but it was awfully hard not to think about it.
Just then, there was a welcome interuption to her thoughts.
“Hello!” said a friendly voice,”you must be going to the Chalet School.”
She turned, to see a smiling woman, with dancing dark eyes and masses of black hair twisted up on her head in a very pretty way, accompanied by a girl of about Rebecca’s age, dressed in the same gentian blue uniform, her copper-bright hair in two plaits dangling to her waist.
Author:  Alison H [ 28 May 2006, 07:56 ]
Post subject: 
Hope your baby's feeling better.

Wonder why the parents aren't going to be living together :? .
Author:  Lesley [ 28 May 2006, 09:47 ]
Post subject: 
Hmmm, have her parents had a BIG ROW about the decision to send Rebecca to School?

Thanks Elieth - hope baby Zach is OK.
Author:  Jennie [ 28 May 2006, 13:08 ]
Post subject: 
Mother has refused to leave New Zealand and Dad has to keep earning his family's living. Still, i hope Rebecca enjoys herself at school.

Thanks Elieth. I hope Zach is feeling better.
Author:  Chair [ 28 May 2006, 13:45 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Elieth. I hope that Zach is ok. I hope that the other girl will be friendly to Rebecca.
Author:  Róisín [ 28 May 2006, 13:57 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Elieth. Hope Zach is feeling better poor pet. Are the parents getting divorced and not telling Rebecca?
Author:  KathrynW [ 28 May 2006, 14:48 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Elieth, I'm really enjoying this.

I hope Zach is better now.

Kathryn
Author:  Lyanne [ 28 May 2006, 21:40 ]
Post subject: 
I hope Zach's ok and that you're getting enough sleep!
Author:  Mary [ 29 May 2006, 15:17 ]
Post subject: 
How are you writing like a million stories at once? I am in awe. I can't even complete one. Hope your lovely baby is better.
M
x
PS- I love the story already by the way. I was just in too much shock to remember to say it!
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