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Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3
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Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

After

This wasn't the place that most women in their sixties would choose to be on a cold December afternoon, but Alixe wouldn't have been anywhere else. It was just as well she had kept herself fit, this afternoon's activities would attract attention and her age would be no guarantee that she would not be arrested, or worse. Large groups of protesters were never without trouble from within as well as without.

This camp had been mainly peaceful, that was the whole point after all. Alixe had been there from the start, arriving with a group from Wales whom she had first met in her days working for the BBC. They had marched from Cardiff and everyone had been surprised that a woman of her age would do the full march, however Alixe had been walking all her life. The conditions in the camp were primitive, no running water, no telephone, no electricity. At this time of year it was wet, muddy and cold. There was no hiding from that fact and Alixe knew from long experience that it was best to face the fact that this was what it would be like and learn to live with it. Thinking that life in camp would be all singing 'We shall Overcome' around glowing camp fires was what lead to disillusionment and arguments.

There were women who came for the day, for the weekend, for the time they could take from work and families and there were women like Alixe who were able to commit to a long term stay. All were welcomed. When they arrived at Greenham they had sent a letter to the Base Commander challenging the decision to site the 96 Cruise Missiles there and saying that “We fear for the future of all our children and for the future of the living world which is the basis of all life” Their protest was strongly committed to non-violent methods and was non-aligned to political and religious groups. As far as Alixe was concerned this was exactly how it should be.

She had survived life in the peace camp the same she had survived other things during her life. By clinging to the values she had learned at school. The same school who at the Anschluss between Austria and Germany, when many of their pupils were withdrawn, had written and signed a peace pledge. Alixe had been in a lot of varied situations since then, from suffering in Germany during the war, being displaced afterwards, spending time in a refugee camp and finally, due to people who remembered her from school being able to relocate to London and work for the BBC. She had been in Berlin during the time the wall was built. Luckily on the Western side of the wall she was not trapped, but seeing those who were and watching the tanks over the barbed wire and the wall as it went up reminded her of many scenes from twenty years previously. She had nightmares for a long time afterwards, but despite that, watching these events only fuelled her determination to strive for a peaceful and better world for all. She had been involved in the revival of the Aldermaston marches in 1972 and a longtime member of CND, however as she got older her interests diversified and she found Greenpeace more to her liking, supporting not only their anti-nuclear protests but their campaigns against over fishing, whaling and toxic waste dumping.

Now in her sixties she was still active and back to her roots, campaigning for peace. She had survived one war and did not want to see another, although it looked only too likely and had looked that way for as long as she could remember. Today they were expecting convoys in and out of the camp. With it being December they had planned a different approach to the protest. They were aiming to wrap tinsel around the trucks, tanks, police, missiles, whatever they could get to. There were a lot of them, all armed with nothing more dangerous than tinsel.

They saw the convoy approaching and the gates of the base open to receive it and they surged forward, Alixe was one of those who managed to break through the line and tinsel at the ready she approached a truck, throwing the glittering streamers in front of her. The convoy had stopped momentarily and she took the opportunity presented to her. This was not a missile carrier, but one of the accompanying jeeps. She grabbed the door and opened it, throwing tinsel inside she shouted “Have a peaceful Christmas” to the two astonished USAF men before she felt firm hands grb her from behind.

She was used to this and did not fight back. That was not their way. She went limp, allowing herself to be carried away. She knew she would be taken to the police station and charged, still it was a chance for a shower and a night indoors. Idly she wondered how the charge would read, would she be the first Chalet School girl arrested for wishing someone happy Christmas?

Author:  Kacca [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

Now that's a real chalet school girl.

Wow.

Author:  shesings [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

Way to go, Alixe!!

Author:  Sugar [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

Great! I wonder if she'll bump into Margot (CCGU)
Greenham Common is totally the sort of thing she'd do !

Author:  Dawn [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

That's brilliant Alixe - well done!

And I love that life at the CS helped prepare her for long marches and living in peace camps :lol: As well as the courage of her convictions to stand out and be different and be prepared to try to change the world

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

What a fantastic way to use Chalet School training! I loved the ending too.

Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

Well done Alixe.

Author:  JB [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

All those cold showers must have proved very useful grounding for living in a peace camp.

Author:  Dawn [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen

JB wrote:
All those cold showers must have proved very useful grounding for living in a peace camp.



And about the same amount of toilet facilities too!

I only ever visited for the day and kept my legs firmly crossed :roll:

Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

During her time at school


It happened during the Christmas holidays the year before I had to leave the Chalet School. I avoided the local girls as much as possible as they made nasty comments about the school, and it was dangerous to answer back. Many families of ordinary Germans kept themselves to themselves in those days, for safety as much as anything. Even the child I was then could feel the atmosphere in Germany, and it wasn’t nice.

I hated the children who spouted doctrine that they had no understanding of, who talked of the 'Master Race' and despised those who weren't German. They were taught to see things that way at school, and at the Hitler Youth meetings they all went to. There was one girl in particular, Gisela Ritter, the same age as myself, who lived and breathed for the Fuhrer. Her parents felt the same way, so she got it at home and at school. But she revelled in it. She picked on me whenever she could, waiting for me to go out. Bullying you'd call it now, but then it was worse than that. Always there was the danger that it could escalate, and then people disappeared. No one asked what had happened - no one wanted to know! Gisela led a small gang of like-minded girls, who made life miserable for their victims.

One Sunday evening, she caught me on my own as I was leaving the church. We both lived in the same area, so we had to go home the same way, though I usually managed to steer clear of her. That evening she was on her own for once. It was dark, even with the street lights on, and I could faintly hear a Christmas carol drifting form someone's house as I walked along the street.

"I suppose you believe all that rot," Gisela sneered. "That Christmas fairy-tale!"

I ignored her and hurried on, but she kept close, sneering and tormenting confident in the knowledge that I would do nothing. After all, hadn't I given her every reason to think that? We came to a park which was a short cut to my street, and I turned down it, hoping that she'd leave me since that was out of her way. She didn't, and under the covering darkness, began pushing and shoving me, as well as taunting me verbally. I kept walking as well as I could until we came to the children's play area. She pushed me again, and I stumbled up against a support for the swings, banging my head. Something seemed to snap, and I leapt at her, pushing her back and then, as she stood there staring in amazement at the worm that turned, I punched her hard in the face. She staggered backwards, seemed to trip on something, and went down hard, hitting her head on the ground. That brought me to my senses, and I crouched down beside her, afraid of the consequences. She was lying very still, too still! I found her wrist and felt for her pulse - nothing! I knew I had the right place, but there was no pulse! Standing up I stood for a minute, shaking, wondering what to do. Then I ran, ran for home and safety and comfort. I had to tell my parents of course, and Mama went white with fear. Papa looked very serious, and I could see that he was thinking things through very fast.

"Did anyone see you two together?" he asked.

"No papa. She only caught me up down the street as I was leaving the church."

"We will wait," he said. "If she is truly dead she can say nothing, and you were wearing gloves except for when you looked for her pulse. We must hope. If she is alive, then we must think again. And we will get together our valuables, and prepare to leave, just in case."

So we spent that evening preparing, and then went to bed, though I suspect none of us slept very much. We heard nothing except for a report that she had been found. It was a nine day wonder, but no one ever dreamt that we had walked together, or that I knew anything about her death. When Christmas passed I went back to school as usual.

Author:  JB [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

What a lot of corpses these Chalet girls (and staff) are leaving behind them. :shock:

Author:  Pat [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

Only one per day!! And death is tradtional in Advent Drabbles! I suggest you go into the archives and read Holocaust if it's still there! that was the first.

Author:  Sugar [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

Great! Thank you .... are you going to post the alternative one at some point?

Author:  Carolyn P [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

Pat wrote:
Only one per day!! And death is tradtional in Advent Drabbles! I suggest you go into the archives and read Holocaust if it's still there! that was the first.


Actually there hasn't even been a death everyday this year. Oh and holocaust wasn't the first advent drabble, it was the follow up to them, we wrote it in Jan/Feb.

That second Alixe one was chilling though.

Author:  keren [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

Is it the same one of you who keeps pushing people over and having them bang their heads???

By the way, I am enjoying these very much! :D

(I do not have time to comment)

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

There must be a litter of bodies leading back to the CS door! Good for Alixe, though.

Author:  Advent Drabblers [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

When Alixe von Elsen first started at the Chalet School the Staff had to organise for a Mistress to meet her at Munich and travel to the Tyrol with her. Miss Edwards had volunteered as she wanted to visit the markets in Munich. Accordingly she met with a very troubled woman who introduced herself as Fraulein Hansen on a wet and wind swept platform a couple of days before the actual start of term. Fraulein Hansen introduced herself as Alixe's old governess and seemed inordinately pleased to be passing on her responsibility to someone else. Alixe herself, a small, slender girl with long fair hair and wide blue eyes, did not appear to be as bad as the Governess was painting her. Miss Edwards found it difficult to believe that any young girl could be quite so evil and calculating. When Fraulein Hansen had finally finished her tirade and stormed off to catch her train Miss Edwards turned to her charge,

“We have a wait of some thirty minutes until the next train to Innsbruck,” she smiled at the young girl, “would you like a drink?”

Alixe smiled in return and whispered that she would, she seemed extremely shy and innocent and Miss Edwards hoped that she would settle into the Chalet School – they had a few somewhat boisterous youngsters of the same age, including Biddy O-Ryan and Mary Shaw. She hoped the little German girl would fit in with her classmates.

On the train the two made themselves comfortable for the journey to Innsbruck; halfway there a guard appeared to check their tickets, he spoke with Miss Edwards,

“Some woman who appear to be completely respectable are shown to be nothing more than thieves.”

“Oh yes?” Miss Edwards asked politely.

The guard seemed eager to pass on his information, “My cousin is guard on the train from Munich to Berlin, I spoke with him at our last stop when I was in the station master's office. He reports that a woman, a governess, was caught attempting to travel without tickets or even money. He had to call the police and have her escorted from the train.”

“A terrible business,” Miss Edwards agreed, looking across at where Alixe was sleeping. She and the guard exchanged further pleasantries before he had to move on to the rest of the coaches and Miss Edwards returned to her book.

In her corner Alixe von Elsen quickly checked in her blazer pocket and smiled as she felt Fraulein Hansen's ticket and purse. The smile made her look almost angelic in appearance.

Author:  Sugar [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

Brilliant! That demure appearances hides a multitude of crimes!

Author:  Abi [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

:lol: A varied and interesting set of views of Alixe! Thank you Advent Drabblers!

Author:  Liz K [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x2

Advent Drabblers wrote:
In her corner Alixe von Elsen quickly checked in her blazer pocket and smiled as she felt Fraulein Hansen's ticket and purse. The smile made her look almost angelic in appearance.


:shock: :evil: :twisted: :o :evil: :twisted: :shock: :evil: :twisted: :o :evil: :twisted: :shock: :evil: :twisted: :o :evil: :twisted: :shock: :shock: :evil: :twisted: :o :evil: :twisted:

Author:  JB [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

Thanks Advent Drabblers.

Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

:twisted: Still waters do run deep!

Thankyou.

Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

Wonderful! Have to say I am enjoying all these Advent Drabbles so much.

Thank you to all who are writing them!

Will we ever get to know who wrote them, or do you remain anonymous?

Author:  Lesley [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

cal562301 wrote:
Wonderful! Have to say I am enjoying all these Advent Drabbles so much.

Thank you to all who are writing them!

Will we ever get to know who wrote them, or do you remain anonymous?


The Advent drabbles are written by Carolyn, Pat and me (Lesley) - normally we post in that order though not always. Mine are normally last because I've only just written them! Pat is very well organised and has hers done well in advance while Carolyn is a bit of each. Oh and we have no idea what the other two have written so any similarities are purely co-incidental! :wink:

Author:  Carolyn P [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

So far this year they've all been posted in that order, although when we get closer to Christmas it does sometimes vary depending on what we are all doing.

At the moment I'm writing mine the evening before I post, although I did finish Melanie off this morning! I would like to get a bit in front, but at this stage it is very unlikely! I do have a list of what crime each character will be committing though, so they are fermenting away.


Edit to add...and I suppose since it is 8.30pm I'd better get started on tomorrows!

Author:  Pat [ Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

And I finished the last one tonight! Hasving said that, I suppose I'd better go and post tonight's!

Author:  Susan [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

Poor Alixe - you have drawn her so well - thank you.

Author:  Kathy_S [ Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Advent 9 Alixe Von Elsen x 3

The tinsel was especially inspired.
Thank you, ADs.

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