Poor ML!
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| Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7057 |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 |
After. Jack depressed the syringe swiftly. He watched the lethal mixture go though the tube and into his patients arm. He sat down, waiting for the man to relax. As he did he meditated on what he had just done. How a drug so potent, so dangerous, was also exactly what this patient needed; how the morphine would help him sleep free of some of the pain he had been constantly suffering and aid his recover. So many of the drugs they used were like this. Both an enormous aid, and yet lethal in their own way at the same time. It was something he liked, taking what could be evil and putting it to good use. As the patient relaxed and drifted into a healing sleep Jack left the room and went down the corridor to his office. It was the end of a long day, a long week and he was ready to go home, but he knew if he didn't deal with some of his overflowing correspondence then tomorrow his super efficient secretary would have increased the pile and look at him as if he were simple when he complained. Tonight he sat down at his desk and groaned. In front of him, and in front of the now doubled correspondence awaiting his attention, were three folders, each annotated with his secretary's precise handwriting, all colour coded into multiple sections with pie charts, graphs, statistical analysis and financial implications set as appendices. He thought of the half hour he had taken away from the office to be with a patient, what he still thought of as his real job and wondered how this amount of paperwork could have arrived on his desk in such a short time and how much of it was absolutely necessary. For a moment he had a brief but satisfying vision of his secretary and the numerous administrators the San now employed all drowning in a swimming pool full of paperwork. He laughed and shook his head. Silly fantasy. It was another two hours before he had broken the back of the work and felt able to head home. As he stood and put his coat on he caught sight of the whiskey bottle sat on the side. “I shouldn't, but after all that paperwork I need one. It'll be cold outside as well.” It was a stupid thing to do, he knew he was going to drive home. He knew the risks of drinking and riving, but as he buttoned up his coat he counted the cost and decided to have just one shot of the Islay malt. Was it the whiskey? Was it being tired? Was it the time of year and ice on the road? Was it a combination of all three? Whichever it was Jack was fortunate. The skid as he hit the ice without noticing it was a small one, and took him in the direction of a small snow drift at the safe side of the road, not the edge of the platz on the other side. The car came to a stop. Jack lifted his hands to his head, and that was when he saw the figure. Standing inches from where the car had come to a final stop. The figure bent down towards the car, “Jack, are you ok. That was almost nasty.” Jack recognised Nell's voice. He got out of the car, a little shaken. “Yes, sorry about the fright. I'm ok, just shaken. I must be more tired than I realised.” “Want me to drive you home, I'm staying with Hilda tonight anyway.” Jack acquiesced, feeling more shaken than he said, and knowing that if he hadn't had a drink then maybe he would have reacted speedier. The thought that he put not only himself but Nell in danger was a sobering one. They reached Freudesheim in a few more minutes, and Nell, knowing what Joey was like swapped places with Jack again for the short distance from the gate to the house. “Appreciate that Nell,” said Jack gruffly as they parted. “Anytime, you'd do the same for me.” They waved goodbye and Jack went into the house. It was late, but the lively house still buzzed. Jack grinned as he heard his boys shouting out to each other from the work room behind the garage. Maybe he'd go and join them after he had eaten. Shouting to Joey he went to the kitchen to see what was left for him to eat. He found Anna sat in her rocking chair, dozing as the kettle quietly boiled. Without waking her he took the plate that was in the warming oven, made a strong cup of coffee and sat down to eat. Joey soon came to join him, ruffling his hair as she talked nineteen to the dozen, and half rousing Anna, who gave a gentle snore as she shifted position in her chair. Joey and Jack grinned at each other and crept from the room. They snuggled up on the large sofa in the salon. Jack looked at the tree, giving off a soft glow and said “It's been such a long week. I am so looking forward to a quiet family Christmas.” Joey shifted guiltily. “About that Jack,” His heart sank. What had she done now, without consulting him. “I was up at the San today, and, well, you know the lady on ward 15. The one with the lad at school in England. Well he is here now term has finished, and he is staying at the hostel. He's ok there. They look after him, but he can only visit the San for an hour a day and I thought at Christmas...” Joey tailed off, uncertainly. Jack was silent. This was only one boy, but it followed the pattern of other years, and he knew where there was one, there were likely to be more. His restful family time would be out of the window playing host. Then he looked down at his wife. There was a tenderness in her eyes that touched him. Despite his deep tiredness he couldn't be angry. “I know it's not what you wanted, but he is all alone, and could be lonelier still soon.” “Don't worry. It's only what I'd expect from you. It's what any of us would do, and it's why I love you.” They snuggled up again and Jack dozed there, Joey in his arms, thinking of what might have been had they been different people. In the morning however it was a different story. He met her on the driveway as he headed for the San. “Hi Uncle Jack, I've just got in on the mail train and can't wait to see you all.” “I didn't realise...” “...that I was coming no. I know. I thought I'd just shove up and surprise you all.” “Well it's a surprise, that's for certain. You'd better get in the car and come with me.” She got in the car uncertainly. This was not the reception she had expected. “Is everything ok Uncle Jack?” “It will be. I just have to dispose of something. Here will do.” They got out of the car at the scene of his almost accident the night before. He told her what had happened and she peered over the edge. “Good job you didn't go over” “Yes,” he said, giving her a push. Joey might take on lame ducks, all well and good, but this was no lame duck, just a cuckoo who pushed in and took advantage. Well not this year. That night Joey looked up from writing cards and commented,”I'm so glad Mary-Lou isn't here this year, I almost expected her to turn up unannounced you know.” Jack smiled. |
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
| Poor ML!
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| Author: | Sugar [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
Ohh finally! It only took 16 days!! She's a cheeky thing isn't she! |
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| Author: | JB [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
Well done Jack. |
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
Finally Jack breaks! Poor man, with a hugely responsible job and a wife
who collects waifs and strays; I'm not surprised Mary-Lou was the last
straw. (But she won't be dead, not OOAO. Oh no, she'll abseil down the
mountain on a thread she unpicks from that twinset Joey knitted her
last year; then she'll hijack a passing bobsleigh and turn up on
Christmas morning, full of herself.  )
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| Author: | janetbrown23 [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
That was evil sealpuppy, just when I was celebrating too. |
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| Author: | Kacca [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
Well she deserved it popping up like that, but I still feel sorry for her  Was a lovely story up to OOAO turning up, I can't blame Jack at all for the ending. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
And here was I wondering if I should really be reading this! Love OOAO as a cuckoo Thankyou.
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| Author: | snowmaiden [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
Go Jack!!!!! Love it, ADs, thank you
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| Author: | shazwales [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
During The phone rang in Freudesheim and Jack Maynard rose to answer it with a sigh. It was almost certainly for him, and he went into his study to take the call. A few minutes later he put his head round the Salon door. "Sorry Jo. That was the San. I'm needed I'm afraid. No need to leave the door on the latch though; I'm likely to be gone all night." "All right," replied Jo. "I wish you didn't have to work such hours, but I suppose it goes with the job." "I’m afraid so," said Jack ruefully, and disappeared. Presently Jo heard the car pull out of the garage and head for the road. It turned in the direction of the San and accelerated away. She sighed, and pulled another of his socks out of the mending basket, fitting it carefully over the wooden darning mushroom before selecting the right shade of wool. Jack drove swiftly up the road towards the San, but before he reached it he turned off onto the road down to the valley. His real destination was a small chalet in Darlingen on the shores of Lake Thun. He thought back to when it had all started, so long ago. He had been swept off the ship he was serving on and given up for lost. He'd hit his head hard, and the blow had given him temporary amnesia, and that was when the trouble started. Or at least, he mused, when he was in hospital recovering. The name of Mrs Josephine Maynard meant nothing to him, and he assumed that it was his mother. He'd been nursed by a lovely dark-haired English girl who'd joined the Nursing Auxiliary and been sent out East. Grace Markham was her name, and almost before he knew it was happening he'd fallen in love with her. He had no memory of Jo or the children waiting at home, and was delighted when he discovered that she returned his feelings. As soon as he was fit enough they married in the little church in the hospital grounds. The weeks after that were idyllic, and his recovery was swift - all except the loss of memory, which he was told might never come back. When he was repatriated, Grace naturally went with him. But on the voyage back to England, his memory returned. The realisation of what had happened shook him to the core, but although he now remembered just who Jo was, and his love for her, his love for Grace didn't fade. Grace had realised that something was the matter, and had asked him. She was stunned when he told her, and that he loved both of them. After much discussion Grace agreed that Jack should share his time between his two wives, and that was what they had done ever since. Jack let himself into the chalet that nestled on the lakeside and sighed with relief at the peace and quiet that met him. At first the lack of children had disappointed both of them, but as Jo’s family increased Jack became more and more grateful for the island of calm that was his other life, and Grace, though disappointed on her own account, was happy to give him this. |
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
 That is not OK, Jack! Poor Joey, and poor Grace
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| Author: | Lesley [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
A real possibility both for men and women - wonder how many men returned from the War having been reported as killed in action to discover their wife had re-married? |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
A side that we don't often think about. Thankyou A.D.s. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
Michelle Magorian covered this in Back Home: a woman who'd been notified that her husband'd been killed in action remarried and had a baby, and then her first husband turned up alive. Bad enough in a book, can't imagine what it must've been like in real life .
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
Before 'Anyway Jack, I must close now, we've got a busy few days here at the Chalet School before the Christmas Break. I must admit to enjoying it here far more than I ever thought possible – but it will be good to go back home and just be spoilt by the family. Hope you do well in your exam – I'm sure you will, you always were the clever one. See you soon, Lots of Love Mollie.' Jack Maynard read through the letter again then angrily crumpled it up and threw it across the room 'It was alright for Mollie, saying he was the clever one – he'd not managed to get a degree in maths had he? And as for that exam...' Jack's heart sunk, He needed to pass this exam, pass it with flying colours, otherwise he'd pretty much been warned he would be off the course, even at this late stage. His dream of being a doctor, of curing illness, finished before it had even started. But this exam, the subject matter didn't help, he had no interest in the subject, found it difficult to even believe it was a serious part of medicine – as far as he was concerned psychiatry was the watchword of quacks and charlatans. But he had to pass that exam! He thought hard and suddenly a possible solution presented itself. The next day he entered the lecture theatre with a smile on his face, secure that he would pass the exam. A week later, when the results were read out, his confidence was shown to be justified as he passed with the highest mark in the class. The lecturer singled him out for praise, saying he must have worked extremely hard to improve so much. The lecturer later would reflect that John Maynard's result wasn't the only surprise, another of the students, one there on a scholarship, had failed badly. Luckily his other marks were enough to allow him to continue and at least it appeared that the fellow had come into some money... |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 |
Jack 
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 |
Oh, how I wish! I do like cunning and resourceful Jack
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| Author: | Abi [ Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 |
| Loved all of those - especially Jack pushing ML over the cliff!
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| Author: | shazwales [ Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 3 |
Thank you,
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| Author: | jonty [ Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 16 - Jack Maynard x 2 |
Advent Drabblers wrote: Luckily
his other marks were enough to allow him to continue and at least it
appeared that the fellow had come into some money... I suddenly find myself liking Jack more and more... thanks, ADs
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