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| Advent Five Robin Humpheries http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6980 |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Robin walked slowly down the long hospital corridor. She was reciting the rosary as she walked. This place upset her. So much suffering. So much death. Having been brought up around the San didn't help. It made it familiar, but it did not ease the burden she felt from the pain all around her. People can here when they were too ill for their usual doctors, they came here as a last resort. Many came here to die. She could see it in their faces, feel it in the very air. She was a small, grave girl. A long plait down her back gave her a look of youth, and indeed to many of those she visited she was young, but she felt herself to be old. At 22 she had seen far more than most girls, even with the war and all it meant to many of her generation. She had grown up with the illness and death of her mother overshadowing her early life. Then there had been her own youth, carefully watched and tended because of an inherited fragility. Numerous hospital check ups, special diets, days in bed and a restricting regime. With all this she had been made aware of how fortunate she was, how many children suffered not only all she did but in addition were separated from their families to be admitted to the children's ward. She was aware of hunger in families around her, of those who had little compared to her. She was also aware from a very young age that her Uncle Jem fought daily to keep illness and pain at bay from those he worked amongst. On fleeing Austria she knew, although the adults tried to shelter her what had happened to Vater Johann, to Herr Goldmann, to Herr Mariani, and to many of the girls she was once at school with and their families. Now she had left school and was studying for her degree. She was a serious student, working hard and making good grades. She did voluntary work with a number of student organisations aimed at poor relief and made herself visit the children's and geriatric wards of the hospital near her Halls of residence as well as at the San. Her San connections had made it possible for her to help some of the children in the local hospital, interesting the specialists there in their cases. She was pleased with this, those positive outcomes, children who were given hope were her reward for the other side of things. The other side, the times when she sat with the dying elderly, those never visited by children or grandchildren who lay forgotten in their beds. Too ill to eat or drink, kept going by drips and medicine. Or the times when she sat with those who despaired because of their pain. Their bodies racked with spasm after spasm that medicine could not touch. There were those who lost all dignity, becoming like babies needing to be fed and changed, dribbling and senseless and yet sometimes she thought she saw a horror behind their eyes, as if they knew what they had become. These people had no hope beyond what she could bring them. Today she sat with an elderly lady. The priest had given her last rites each week now for several months, but today her breath was rasping and for the first time she did not seem to be quietly fading, but finding each breath painful. Robin left the room and spoke to a nurse. “No she is on the maximum of the morphine.” “The doctor...?” Robin's voice asked the question. “He can't prescribe any more. We are making her as comfortable as possible.” “How long?” “God only knows, could be tonight, could be another week.” Robin murmured her thanks and went back to the bedside. She continued with the rosary as she sat, hoping for some guidance, some sign, but nothing changed. The end of her prayers reached, Robin stood and looked down at the old lady, and then quietly sang an old lullaby, The Red Safaran. The same lullaby her mother had rocked her to sleep with. Sure the old lady was sleeping Robin smoothed the hair over her forehead and stroked the lady's cheek. She continued to sing as with a practised hand she placed the small cushion from the chair over the lady's face. It didn't take much pressure, it never did. Robin put the cushion back and stood back, composing herself before reciting the prayer for the dead. . When she left the room she shut the door carefully and walking past the nurses station said, “She is sleeping now.” “Yes, I heard you singing. I am sure it must have soothed her.” “I hope so.” |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Fascinating and shocking at the same time. And all too plausible. |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Maria Humphries finished her lunch, and then busied herself about their small flat, humming quietly to herself. Her small daughter, also called Maria, though more often by the loving nickname of Robin, was fast asleep. The peace was blissful, Maria thought, as when Robin was awake she was bobbing here there and everywhere, just like the bird she was named after. The little girl woke up after about an hour, and Maria got her ready to go out. It was cold, with snow on the ground, and she wrapped her up warmly before putting her into the pushchair for the walk into town. Maria loved this time of year, with the Christmas lights shining from the shops, the wonderful window displays, and the smells coming from all the special Christmas food. Maria wished that they had just a little more money, for their Christmas would be bare indeed. Her husband Ted had a poorly paid job, and they had a constant struggle to make ends meet. Moreover, Maria knew that there was something badly wrong with her own health, as she had a nasty cough the would not go away. They walked up the long road into the little town, Robin chattering excitedly, though Maria understood only about one word in three. Robin's thoughts often ran away with her words, and she tended to make them up if she didn't know them. Once they reached the shops they stopped and looked in the windows, especially those of the toy shop. She knew that they could afford nothing from there, and she had already made a rag doll for the little girl out of scraps, and was busy making clothes for her. In the market square a band was playing Christmas carols, and they stopped to listen for a few minutes. But it was too cold to stand around for long and they went on to the big department store where Maria needed to buy one or two things. Carols were playing here too, broadcast around the store, and giving a very festive air to the place. It was crowded , and Maria had a hard time pushing her way through. Having bought the few items she needed, they made their way to the toys section, and she and Robin had a wonderful time looking at everything. Mindful of the dark evenings, Maria left the store before it got dark, going down in the lift because of the pushchair, and round the various counters to the exit. Her way led through the children's clothing section, and she stopped once or twice to look at things that she would have loved to have bought, but she knew she couldn't. All their clothes she made herself, and it was as much as she could afford to buy the material. It was getting dark as they left the store, and Maria hurried home to get indoors before night drew in. The hurrying brought on her cough, and she had to slow down, but they reached home at last, and she shut the front door thankfully. It was only when she stooped to take Robin's harness off and get her out of the pushchair that she noticed what the little girl had clutched in her hands. A pair of socks, just the right size for her, that she must have picked up in the store without Maria noticing. |
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| Author: | Dawn [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Very thought provoking - thankyou and I've ended up with stuff because small hands grabbed it without me realising...... but I'm wondering if part 3 will show other tendancies... |
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| Author: | Pat [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Dawn wrote: Very thought provoking - thankyou and I've ended up with stuff because small hands grabbed it without me realising....... So have I! Try thinking of a crime a 6 yrear old or younger could commit!!! 
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| Author: | Emma A [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Gosh, Robin as an "Angel of Death"  What a bunch of criminals all these Chalet School types are! |
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| Author: | KatS [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
The first part was deeply chilling Quote:
It didn't take much pressure, it never did. Robin put the cushion back
and stood back, composing herself before reciting the prayer for the
dead. . You can just see how it would have happened, too... Very scary. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
This is truly chilling. Poor Robin  Thankyou.
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| Author: | Abi [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Mmm, Robin seems to be an interesting character. Not entirely sure what to think! |
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| Author: | Sugar [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
I don't actually think Robin would have done that, personally, afterall she was a RC. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Sugar wrote: I don't actually think Robin would have done that, personally, afterall she was a RC. I can see how someone would, if they were very sympathetic to another's suffering, be tempted to do something like that - to 'put someone out of their misery' sort of thing. We treat animals far more humanely at times. |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Amy Stevens looked round as Robin Humphries entered the room, “You said there was a problem?” Robin nodded, “Yes, I'm afraid our next shipment is going to be late.” “Why? What happened?” “Well you know the still is arranged underneath my bed?” Amy nodded, the arrangement had worked extremely well, she, Robin and a number of their friends had managed to concoct a still when all staying at Die Rosen. They had placed it beneath Robin's bed secure in the knowledge that Robin was trusted to keep her room clean and no-one would discover it. The 'White Lightning' that was produced was surprisingly strong considering that it was made from kitchen scraps, sugar, sloe berries and water. The girls had supplemented their rather meagre pocket money for years – every time a new batch was needed Robin took to her bed for a few days. “I know, did something happen?” “Yes, there's a new maid and she started sweeping under the bed and dislodged the still – I had gin everywhere!” “Oh no!” “Well I managed to silence the girl – she was very happy with the extra money and will be pleased to cover for us in the future.” “But what about the gin? I mean it can't have been easy to get rid of it,” Amy looked concerned. “No,” Robin laughed, “only thing I could think of was to throw it out of the window – problem was it managed to drench Eigen – so I've just had a lecture from Madame.” “Poor you.” “I know – I could really use a drink.” |
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| Author: | Abi [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
  Ah well, that just completes the picture!
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| Author: | Sugar [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Brilliant! She's obviously not as innocent as she looked!
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| Author: | Susan [ Sun Dec 06, 2009 1:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Brilliant - still waters obviously run very deep. |
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| Author: | jmc [ Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
I'm really enjoying these advent drabbles. It's great to see a different side to everyone. Thanks Advent Drabblers for all your hard work |
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| Author: | JB [ Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Thanks. Love the idea of the still. Do you think the whole of the Annexe were in on it? |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Dec 06, 2009 1:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
| Now that does explain a lot! I just hope that Eigen appreciated his unexpected treat. Thankyou. |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Dec 06, 2009 5:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Brilliant,Eigen must have wondered what had drenched him 
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| Author: | sealpuppy [ Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Advent Drabblers wrote: “Poor you.” “I know – I could really use a drink.” Moaning with laughter at those two lines. And such is the power of suggestion I'm off to find the gin.
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| Author: | Liz K [ Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
Is this the Chalet School we're talking about or St Trinians??
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| Author: | Smile :) [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent Five Robin Humpheries |
| Loved the last bit! The first bit however was chilling as others have said. |
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